## KRISTIAN MCPHEE
**Director & Head Coach**
In my athletic career I trained Parkour to a high level for eight years from a young age, moving into full time Olympic Weightlifting since 2013. Winning three national titles (Student, Under 23 and Senior) and was a member of the GB talent squad. In my coaching career, with experience teaching dancing, skiing and parkour, I moved into weightlifting coaching fluidly — creating dozens of national champions, British record holders and several national team members, with aims to build these young athletes into international champions.
Former National Coach for British Weightlifting, heading the largest ever medal haul of 13 medals at the European Junior and U23 Championships. Coached multiple international medallists and dozens of national record holders & British Champions. Coached by 3-Time Olympian Mike Pearman.
Kristian also serves as Strength & Conditioning Coach at Complete Physio in Chelsea, where he offers specialist rehab and force testing services alongside his coaching work.
BSc Anthropology – London School of Economics
Graduate Diploma in Law – Brunel
MSc Strength & Conditioning – St Mary's University
---
## JAMES LUONG
**Coach**
James is an experienced Personal Trainer and Coach based in London who specialises in Strength & Conditioning and technical lifting. James is known for his attention to detail and striving for perfection when performing exercises. His approach to training aims to simplify exercises and movements to create a better understanding and cohesion between mind and body.
James is passionate about three separate disciplines of training: Bodybuilding, Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting. His ability to build strong relationships with his clients and other fitness professionals is one of his biggest strengths. He hopes to continue his development and help more people change their life and their ideas of weight training.
---
## DEBORAH ALAWODE
**Coach**
Since beginning weightlifting in 2014, Deborah has gained a breadth of experience both as an athlete and as a coach. A British record holder, 4th place at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 representing England, and winner of numerous British U20 and U23 Championships as well as British Champion. Deborah has coached at several clubs and has been a long-standing coach for London Strength.
Throughout her lifting career she has gained experience coaching lifters in competition at all levels as a qualified BWL Level 2 coach. Outside of weightlifting, Deborah has completed her PhD at UCL and is now a practicing Doctor.
---
## JESSICA GORDON-BROWN
**Coach, Head of Youth Programme & Education Administrator**
A pocket rocket and an experienced coach. Jess has been a high level athlete in Gymnastics, Judo and Weightlifting, as well as a coach in all three. Career highlights include winning silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Jess has a great ability to teach people from all backgrounds and ages, and brings a wealth of experience to match.
---
## IAIN COULING
**Coach**
I've been in the sport of weightlifting for over 10 years — my first exposure to the lifts came through S&C sessions in rugby, before taking the sport up fully after two major injuries ended my playing career.
I've been very fortunate to learn and study under some of the best coaches in the country, starting with Giles Greenwood, then spending time with Keith Morgan and the team at Crystal Palace, before meeting Mehmed Fikretov — the biggest influence and mentor to my lifting and coaching.
Favourite lift: Snatch — though definitely learning to love the clean and jerk. Of all the sports I've competed in, weightlifting has been the biggest test physically, emotionally and mentally, and that's what keeps me coming back every session.
---
## TOMAS VYKOPAL
**Coach**
Tomas began his Olympic weightlifting journey at the age of nine and went on to build a 14-year professional competitive career, becoming a 3x National Weightlifting Champion competing in the 85kg category.
A technically meticulous coach, Tomas brings a high-performance, detail-driven approach to every athlete he works with. His coaching philosophy is built on identifying the root cause of a problem — not just the symptoms — and delivering specific, targeted solutions that create real, lasting improvements in technique and performance.
Tomas works with lifters of all levels, from beginners learning the basics of the snatch and clean & jerk, to advanced competitors chasing bigger totals. He believes that progress comes from understanding *why* you're doing something, not just following instructions — and that the balance between technique and strength is what separates good lifters from great ones.
Since relocating to the UK, Tomas has continued competing and coaching full time, combining his deep competitive experience with a genuine passion for helping others become the best lifters they can be.