2024 Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards: Gary Clark typifies what it means to be a game changer

With 50 years of coaching under his belt, chairman of the Mid West Academy of Sport Gary Clark has reflected on his time as a coach, mentor, lover of all things sport and what his idea of a “game changer” is. There is less than a week to go before the winners of the 2024 Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards are announced on Saturday night, with this year’s theme being “game changers”. To many, Clark personifies what a local sporting game changer should be. Starting his athletic career competing in decathlons, Clark fell in love with the sport and spurred on by his coaches at the time, he developed an interest in coaching that he would rediscover later in life. Clark transferred over to marathons after his time competing in decathlons. He was dragged across to the distance-running scene by John Gilmore, who was a star on the track over the 42.2km distance. Gilmore served as a mentor to Clark as he went on his journey through marathon competing. Clark managed to get his personal best marathon time down to 2hr 15 min. The world record time is 2:00.35. Over Clark’s time as a marathon runner, he competed all over Australia, winning two State titles in WA and numerous cross-country and road titles during his partnership with Gilmore. After competing in Perth and over east, Clark returned to Geraldton in 1978 where he began coaching athletics. Clark turned his focus to nurturing the local talent in the Mid West, using his knowledge in the sport from his old coach Gilmore. Clark’s sporting expertise wasn’t just limited to the track. In 1979 he began training beach sprinter Jodee Walton to a silver at the national championships. This led Clark to get involved deeper in the surf lifesaving community. Clark applied his experience in track and field to surf boat coaching, winning a number of State titles and coming second to powerhouse club North Cottesloe at the world titles. Clark now focuses on the Mid West Academy of Sport where he finds himself the chairman whilst also coaching his athletes throughout the week. Clark said coaching for him was more than just about producing great athletes, but helping produce great humans. “We have core values that we preach, you know good sportsmanship, and to me that creates good leaders and good community citizens,” he said. “We look at working together, being on time, letting people know if you’re going to be late, helping with equipment, putting it out and putting it back, and and just all those simple things.” Clark doesn’t just coach one discipline of athletics but rather his expertise spreads across multiple events, allowing kids in the academy to gain experience from someone who has just about done it all. Clark said a game changer to him was someone who could have a significant impact in people’s life through the vehicle of sport. “I believe a game changer is someone who can walk away from what they have achieved knowing that they have done more than just make a good athlete,” he said. “It is bigger than the individual, it is about growing a sport and nurturing talent to succeed on and off the sporting field.” For Clark, his athletes are more than just athletes. He puts countless hours into each of them to allow them to achieve their goals in sport and in life. “I treat and respect the kids as if they were my own,” he said. “We have built an environment that I am proud to say can prepare these kids for life on and off the track. “I just try to instil my love of the sport in them through the way I coach.” Clark has seen many faces come through the academy, coaching them to world titles, State titles and life goals. Through his work, he has become a game changer himself.