Shane Fitzgibbon.
AN Oakpark native, currently based in Galway, has won a world-renowned coaching accolade.
Shane Fitzgibbon was the only finalist outside of North America to reach the top ten for the ‘Coach of the Year’ accolade awarded by the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA).
It was announced on Friday that he won the competition which was decided by public vote.
The Association is the premier international authority in Youth Fitness and Youth Sports Performance Training, with member coaches in over 22 countries.
Shane has been coaching children in sport for over 20 years and is concerned by the decline in children’s fitness and health.
He feels so passionately about this that he is devoting time, pro bono, to improving the physical fitness of many children at a Galway National School.
“My mission is to enhance the health and fitness of as many children as possible,” he said.
This dedication got noticed by the IYCA, and he was selected as International Coach of Distinction in February.
Now he has become Coach of the Year, he hopes to raise Ireland’s profile in the international coaching community. Shane is also a regular presenter at the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) annual conference.
He also carries pre-season work with teams of various sports and one-to-one training with athletes who require more individual attention.
