Charles Van Commenée

Charles van Commenée is internationally recognised as one of the most accomplished athletics coaches of his generation, best known as the former Head Coach of British Athletics and Technical Director of the Dutch Athletics Federation. With a career spanning more than three decades, he has worked with some of the world’s leading athletes, including Denise Lewis, Jonathan Edwards and Ashia Hansen. Today, Charles is a highly sought-after leadership speaker, drawing on his expertise in high performance, team culture and resilience to inspire audiences in sport, business and beyond.

After studying Physical Education at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Charles began his coaching journey with the Netherlands Athletics Union, specialising in combined events and throws. His first major international success came in 1995 when he guided Huang Zhihong to a silver medal at the World Championships. This success laid the foundation for his work with Denise Lewis, whom he coached to heptathlon victories at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and European Championships, and later to an Olympic medal through his guidance of Kelly Sotherton in 2004. His reputation for building athletes to succeed on the world stage quickly established him as a leading figure in coaching.

Charles went on to hold several senior leadership roles, including Technical Director of British Athletics and Performance Director of the Netherlands Olympic Committee, where he also served as Chef de Mission for the 2004 Olympic Games. Under his leadership, the Dutch team secured their second-highest medal tally at the 2008 Olympics. Appointed National Head Coach of British Athletics the same year, he went on to shape the nation’s high performance system during a pivotal era. More recently, he has served as Performance Consultant to the Dutch Olympic Committee and returned to lead Dutch Athletics once again in 2018. His contributions have been recognised with induction into the British Coaching Hall of Fame, where he became the first foreign coach to be honoured.

As a speaker, Charles translates his experiences from elite sport into practical lessons for leaders in any field. His approach emphasises discipline, accountability and the creation of cultures where individuals can thrive under pressure. Having advised organisations such as Shell, Capgemini and EY, and with the publication of his book ‘Handboek Topsports’ in 2023, he continues to inspire audiences worldwide. He is hired for his proven ability to develop high performance teams and instil the mindset needed to achieve excellence.