Kim McDonald, one of the best-known managers in athletics, died suddenly on Friday, according to IAAF officials in Monte Carlo today.
McDonald, an accomplished coach and popular manager who once graced the track at the top level, was found by his housekeeper in his Brisbane apartment. He he had been holidaying alone.
The 45-year-old Yorkshire-born McDonald was most known for his fostering of top athletes including Kenyans Noah Ngeny and Moses Kiptanui, Sonia O'Sullivan of Ireland and American Bob Kennedy.
However the man who was recently appointed by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack as his special adviser was most known for his work with athletes from East Africa.
On hearing the news of McDonald's sudden death Diack said simply it was "tragic".
"This is tragic news, particularly because of the sudden nature of Kims death," said Diack.
"I remember Kim as a young man full of life and enthusiasm. We had been friends for many years and I greatly appreciated the seriousness, honesty and passion he demonstrated when we worked together on the development of athletics in Africa.
"I am sure that the world athletics family, but especially the many athletes whose careers Kim followed with professionalism and true affection, feel with me the tragic loss of this great manager."
In his own athletics career McDonald was often outshone by his more famous contemporaries Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe. He later turned to coaching, numbering among his many proteges Peter Elliott, the last great British middle distance runner.
AFP