Michael Gruenberger

World Class Podium Squad Coach

Full Name: Michael Gruenberger

Date of Birth: 05/11/64

Place of Birth: Hall, Austria

Currently Living: Zirl, Austria

Occupation: Head Ice Coach

Reasons for taking up the sport (as an athlete): The guys who worked in the printing shop I was working in took me to the local track in Igls aged 16.

Significant Results (as an athlete & coach)

As athlete:

1987 Junior European Champion 4-man Bob (Appelt)

1990 World Champion Skeleton

1991 Bronze Medal World Champs Skeleton

As coach:

3^rd World Champs 1998 Felix Poletti/SUI

2^nd World Champs 2000 Gregor Stähli/SUI

1^st World Champs 2001 Martin Rettl/AUT

2^nd Olympic Winter Games 2002 Martin Rettl/AUT

1^st Europeans 2003 Walter Stern/AUT

2^nd Olympic Winter Games 2006 Shelley Rudman/GBR

2^nd World Champs 2009 Amy Williams/GBR

2^nd World Champs 2009 Adam Pengilly/GBR

Michael is a former World Champion who has become one of the world's most coveted coaches. In 2001 he coached Martin Rettl to the World title in Calgary and followed it up with the Olympic Silver Medal a year later in Salt Lake City and in Turin 2006 he coached Shelley Rudman to Olympic Silver. He joined British Skeleton in 2004 to work with the team at the Olympic Games in 2006 in Turin and Vancouver 2010.

His key responsibilities include the World Cup Performance Squad's annual season plans, the development of a video library of sliding and push start film at the University of Bath, and performance analyses as well as track side coaching. Michael is a key figure in the integration of sport psychology, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning within our athletes training, preparation, and performance.