Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson is hoping to help people achieve their own personal bests when he opens up his own Putney gym in April.
The Olympian, who broke the decathlon world record four times, has joined forces with fellow former athletes Gavin Sunshine and Steve Gutteridge to found a gym.
The three former decathletes will run the first gym under the DaleyFitness brand which aims to cater for people of all abilities.
Thompson, who claims more decathlon honours than anybody before or after him, hopes that his and his business partners’ experience will improve the industry.
“I believe that we will bring something a little different to the industry,” Thompson explained.
“After spending over 40 years training and competing with great athletes our combined experience will improve what is already out there.”
Since being forced to retire from athletics in 1992, Thompson has worked as a fitness coach for Wimbledon FC, Luton Town and was also an integral part of the London 2012 Summer Olympics bid.
However the choice of Putney as a location for his gym came not from working experience but from living experience.
“I bought my flat in Putney in 2001 and I never realised how close it is to the centre of the universe,” he said.
“It has everything you could need, whether you are a singleton, family, retired or working in the city, Putney has it all or if not it’s only a short train ride away.”
This gym will be the first branch of his brand DaleyFitness and Thompson says he won’t looking to open up any more until he makes a success of his first.
Picture courtesy of fluterirl, with thanks
