Recently retired British track sprinter Jamie Staff has been signed up by USA Cycling to head up its track sprint programme in the States.
Staff will be based in Carson, California, where he will oversee a restructured US track sprint programme commencing from July, which aims to create a gold medal-worthy US track sprint line-up by the London Olympic Games in 2012.
"My immediate goals are to get us in a position to compete in the London Olympics and then go on and win multiple medals in Rio in 2016 and beyond," said Staff in a statement released by USA Cycling on Tuesday.
"We have a world-class velodrome facility... and a desire to put American sprint track cycling on the map and now myself with the motivation and experience to help deliver."
Staff announced his retirement from the Great Britain track cycling team in March. The 36-year-old had been a key member of Great Britain's team sprint squad, bringing home a gold medal as part of the winning GB trio at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
However, Staff was not selected to ride in the 2010 World Championships in Copenhagen in March, and decided that it was time to pass the baton to younger riders, saying "I feel that looking at the big picture I would struggle to compete with the best riders in the World at the London Olympics and be in a position to win the gold medal again."
Jamie Staff with his wife, Malia
Staff spent an eight-year spell in America in the late nineties when he was competing in BMX. Staff's wife, Malia, and children are American and Staff told us in an interview in April that the family had intended to move back to the States on his retirement.
Given Staff's sporting credentials and his family background the fit at USA Cycling looks to be perfect, and sets up an intriguing battle between USA and Team GB at the velodrome during the London 2012 Games.
Jamie Staff: Career highlights
2009
Awarded MBE in 2009 New Year Honours
Track World Cup, Copenhagen, team sprint gold
National champion, team sprint
Track World Cup, Manchester, team sprint
2008
Olympic champion, team sprint
Gold medal, team sprint Manchester World Cup
2005
World champion, team sprint
2004
World champion, keirin
2003
Gold, team sprint, World Cup
Gold, kilo, World Cup
2002
World champion, team sprint
1996
World BMX champion
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