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An inspiration: trampolining coach Rohan Nichol |
Shock over tragic death of much-loved sports coach
Talacre Centre instructor remembered for his boundless energy and kind words for all
THE sudden death of a popular trampolining coach has left hundreds of pupils and colleagues in shock and mourning.
Rohan Nichol, 40, a top instructor at the Talacre Sports Centre in Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town, was fatally injured when he fell from the 16th floor of Austen House on the South Kilburn estate last Wednesday evening.
Tributes have flooded in for the professional athlete – affectionately nicknamed “Mr Crazy” because of his seemingly boundless enthusiasm and jaw-dropping feats on the trampoline.
Fellow trampolinist Maxine O’Reilly said: “He did these amazing stunts in his routines – he was a real showman.
“He loved to entertain people and he was known all over the country. I can’t believe he’s not with us anymore. He’ll leave a giant footprint no one will be able to fill.”
Mr Nichol, of Harlesden, was one of the oldest competing trampolinists in the country and had a hoard of medals to his name. He competed at the highest levels within the sport and was selected to represent the Great Britain trampoline team. He was also selected as the regional squad coach for the London Trampoline Committee.
Liz West, service manager at Talacre and Mr Nichol’s colleague for the past 12 years, said: “He was an excellent, hard-working coach, a great guy and a great friend, wonderful with children and extremely knowledgable about his sport.”
While parents and fellow teachers described him as a dynamo who was dedicated to building up the best trampolining team, friends and students of Mr Nichol remembered a man who had a joke and a wise word for everyone.
One former student wrote on the social networking site Facebook: “Today at school had to be the worst, everyone crying, everyone writing all over their school jumpers and wearing their PE kits in respect. You’ve taught so many people and you should be proud.”
Linda Lawrie, competition secretary at London Trampolining, where Mr Nichol was the development squad coach, praised his devotion to the sport. “His enthusiasm was amazing and he was always happy,” she said. “He will be a great loss to the sport.”
An inqest into his death opened on Tuesday.
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‘Rohan was an inspiration: the people’s Socrates’
ROHAN was the little man with the big heart.
To say that he would do anything for his friends and family would be an understatement – in truth he’d have done
anything for anyone, regardless of how well he knew them.
He was a bundle of energy and positivity, and despite seeming at times to be living his life with his finger firmly pressed on the fast-forward button, you always felt that he still managed to absorb each and every moment.
I told him once that he reminded me of an excited kid at Christmas who had perhaps had one bag of Skittles too many. He just gave me a mischievous look, one that I would become accustomed to seeing over the years, and told me that I had to live for every moment.
Early on in our friendship Rohan presented me with a book entitled Way of the Peaceful Warrior, an autobiographical story by Dan Millman that he insisted I read.
It told the tale of how, as a thriving young gymnast, Millman’s life was changed forever by a chance meeting with a gas station attendant, who he would later nickname Socrates.
In reading the book it was impossible not to picture Rohan as Socrates – a man who lived to guide and help those who crossed his path.
He was an inspirational mentor who you could turn to with any stray thoughts or problems, knowing he would be there to help.
Without doubt he was an exceptional trampolining coach, but I honestly believe that the only reason the youngsters kept coming back week after week was because of him. It was never about the sport.
He had an insightful, magnetic style of teaching, which when entwined with his infectious personality, made it almost impossible to ignore him.
Another mark of the man was how, despite the fact that he had such an immense intellect, he never made it feel like he was talking down to you or that in some way he was your superior.
He was a crazy break from a stressful day, a sturdy shoulder when one was needed and a good friend.
The warmth and laughter that Rohan brought into my life is worth more to me than the heartache that has been left behind now that he’s gone.
It was a privilege knowing him, the people’s Socrates.
Steve Barnett
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