NEWPORT’s Christian Malcolm has won an award in recognition of his coaching of Team GB's relay sprint teams.

The former Olympian was one of a three-man coaching staff to be given High Performance Coach of the Year at the UK Coaching Awards.

Under Malcolm and fellow coaches Benke Blomkvist and Stephen Maguire, Team GB's men won gold in the 4x100m relay at the World Championships in August.

The coaches have also been responsible for successes with the women’s team, who picked up gold in the 4x100m relay and bronze in the 4x400m at the Olympic Games in 2016.

While Mr Malcolm was not present to accept the award in London on Thursday night, he told the Argus that he is “humbled” by the win.

“It’s a great honour and came as a bit of a shock,” he added.

“I’ve had Whatsapp messages from the guys all suited up then telling me that we got the award, so it’s great news.”

Along with his Team GB duties, Malcolm also coaches Paralympic athletes with an eye on next year’s Commonwealth Games. He also runs the Christian Malcolm Sports Academy for athletes of all levels of ability.

Despite being two-and-a-half years into his role for British Athletics, Malcolm insists that coaching was not on his radar once he retired.

“I was sort of forced into it in a way, but it’s been going so well,” he said.

“It’s due in no part to the athletes that I’ve worked with. Without their hard work and education we wouldn’t have been so successful as a team, and we wouldn’t have picked up these awards.”