Newspaper Article 1999 – Sylvia Potts, athlete, dies aged 55

Sylvia Potts, athlete, dies aged 55

FRASER KENNEDY

Legendary athletics coach and former New Zealand representative middle distance runner Sylvia Potts has died.

Potts, 55, a representative athlete at Olympic and Commonwealth Games level, died last night at Hawke’s Bay Hospital from cancer.

The grave nature of her condition became clear in January when Mrs Potts was rushed to the Hastings hospital after having seizures.

She was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday with intense headaches. Scans found two tumours growing at an alarming rate and she was given two to three months to live.

“We knew it was inoperable but we didn’t think it would happen quite as quickly as it has,” husband Allan Potts said today. “Despite the pain she must have been in, the only thing she said about it was ‘why me?’ We discussed it and said ‘that’s life’.”

Mrs Potts gained international recognition for her coaching prowess and was presented with an IAAF award last year. She coached at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and managed the New Zealand Athletics team at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Last year she was awarded New Zealand’s Order of Merit.

But working with junior runners was her passion, Mr Potts said. The couple’s work saw the Hastings Athletic Club produce several world class middle distance runners including Hamish Christensen, Phil Costley and her son, national 10,000m champ Richard Potts.

She is survived by her husband Allan and sons Richard, Nicholas and the late Matthew.

Photo caption – SYLVIA POTTS