(OE 1997-2004)
Jonas was employed by UK Athletics in the build-up to the 2012 London Olympics, with some of his young athletes performing at the Junior Championships, World Juniors and World Youths. He coached two Paralympic girls who medalled. Over the past few years, his students have won European, Commonwealth and World titles.
Emanuel showed me that it doesn’t matter where you come from. If you know where you want to go, you can forge a way to get there. It doesn’t matter who your parents are, it matters what you want and where you want to go and how determined you are to get there.
Jonas was able to attend Emanuel by being awarded an assisted place for half of his fees, and an academic scholarship which covered the other half. He reflects on the sport opportunities that were opened up to him through Emanuel, such as playing for Rosslyn Park through the age groups and for Surrey and the South, meeting friends from different demographics and backgrounds that he wasn’t used to. One of his first rugby tours at school was to South Africa with the school team, which he states as an eye-opening experience.
After leaving Emanuel, Jonas studied coaching at university and studied for a Masters degree. He later travelled to the United States to work with Dan Pfaff – “one of the best coaches alive”.