Jane Figueiredo received the prestigious honour on Monday at a ceremony held at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, attended by IOC President Thomas Bach. She was awarded alongside Ukrainian pole vault coach Vitaliy Petrov. The annual awards recognise one female and one male coach who has played a vital role in their athletes’ careers and left a lasting impact on their sports.

An accomplished coach and former Olympian, Figueiredo has guided seven Olympic medallists, including British diving stars Tom Daley and Matty Lee, following her retirement from competition.

“The IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards celebrate two coaches who have gone above and beyond in assisting their athletes both on the sporting and the personal side, supporting them through their Olympic journeys,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. "Jane Figueiredo has demonstrated unwavering dedication, inspiring countless athletes to reach their full potential. Her passion for coaching has not only produced champions but has also left a lasting legacy."

From Athlete to Coach | A Lifetime in Diving

Figueiredo’s illustrious career in sport began as an athlete, representing Zimbabwe at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships and Portugal at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 and the 1986 World Aquatics Championships. After retiring from competition, she transitioned to coaching, serving as head diving coach at the University of Houston (USA) from 1990 to 2014 before taking over as Great Britain’s Olympic diving coach in 2014.

“I am truly honoured to receive the IOC Lifetime Achievement Award for my coaching,” commented Figueiredo. “I would like to thank the IOC for recognising my work and awarding me this incredible accolade. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my family, colleagues, mentors and Aquatics GB for their unwavering support and guidance. This award is not just for me, but for all the incredible divers, coaches and support staff who have guided and supported me over the course of my career.

“Coaching has been my passion since I was a young girl, and to receive this award is a dream come true!” she added. “The Olympic Games are the ultimate dream for many coaches and athletes - we strive every day for excellence, and this award is recognition of all those long hours and years of dedication.”

A Legacy of Inspiration | Championing Female Coaches

Image Source: Gold medallists Grace Reid (2L) and Tom Daley (2R) of Great Britain pose with their coaches Jenny Leeming (L) and Jane Figueiredo following victory in the Diving Mixed 3m Synchronised Final at the 2016 European Swimming Championships in London, England (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Beyond coaching, Figueiredo has been a trailblazer for female coaches in the male-dominated world of sports. As a member of the UK Sport Women's Leadership group, she has organised seminars to empower young coaches at the start of their careers.

Olympic champion Tom Daley, who worked closely with Figueiredo during his career, paid tribute to her:

“What an absolute honour to have worked with Jane. She put her heart and soul into every single competition, and throughout the years, she has taught me what it means to be a real professional athlete. She has impacted so many people and not just me and my diving career, in and out of the pool. She has set up such a legacy for herself and it is an honour to have been part of that.”

Daley also praised her efforts to inspire women in coaching, adding: “Jane is an amazing strong female coach that many women around the world look up to, and she will leave a legacy of inspiration behind her. I feel so lucky and grateful to have been able to work with her.”