Olympics are just one goal for elite athletes at Burnley College

By Scott Dawson Advertising

13 Nov 2023

16 year old professional wrestler Danoush Jowkar is enrolled in the Elite Athlete Programme at Burnley College.jpg.jpg

Burnley College has an outstanding facility training future elite athletes. Students compete for places in the GB Olympic squad; they represent GB in the Junior Commonwealth Games; they are record-breakers and national heroes - and are also trained by the best.

Young athletes destined for the top of their chosen sports have been selected to play rugby for Sale Sharks and football for Manchester United Women, as well as earning a place on the Youth Performance Squad for the Royal Yachting Association or being selected for the first England Men's Netball Team.

One world class student athlete is 16-year-old professional wrestler Danoush Jowkar, who has been British and English Champion five times and competes internationally for GB. Recently he won the German Open, which ranks him 10th in the world at his sport, dominating the opposition and winning all his matches in the week-long contest, including one against an opponent 11 years his senior. 

Danoush studies Advanced Level Sport, Fitness and Personal Training at Burnley College Sixth Form Centre and is also a member of the Elite Athlete Programme, which offers tailored strength and conditioning training to young athletes competing at a high level in their chosen sport.

He commented: "I came to Burnley College because I'd heard it was one of the best colleges in the UK. I can absolutely confirm that!

"The sports facilities are exceptional. I particularly get a lot of use out of the cryotherapy chamber, which helps speed up the recovery process. Wrestling can be very taxing on your muscles, so anything which helps recovery is useful.

"The staff are incredible, too. They're always available to help with everything from training tips and techniques to the psychology of sport."

Danoush has the passion and ambition to go right to the top of his sport. He added: "I'm always competing. My training regime is tough, I'm training 12 to 14 times per week with a combination of mat and gym sessions.

"My next big competition is the Euro Championships, in June 2024. After that it's the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. I'm currently 10th in the world and to get there I'm going to have to move up to 5th.

"It's a tough challenge but I'm going to get there!"

The £6m facilities at Burnley College's Fitness Evolution on-site sports centre include hydrotherapy, a cryotherapy recovery chamber, a climate-controlled hot or cold room for training, plus experts to advise on nutrition, psychology, mentoring and much more. Burnley FC use the facility to support the rehabilitation of injured players.

Karen Buchanan, principal of Burnley College, commented: "Danoush is doing incredibly well in his sport and I know he will reach the very top with the determination and passion he shows in his training.

"As an elite athlete, he has access to the very best strength and conditioning training, and expert guidance from our trainers, many of whom enjoyed careers as professional athletes.

"This exceptional experience is also replicated in Danoush's academic studies, too, as we're officially the number one college in the country in the government's National Achievement Rate Tables for 16 to 18 year olds.

"We put our learners at the heart of everything we do and are committed to Building Futures and Changing Lives. We encourage and support them to make a difference, not only to their own lives, but to their families, society and industry!"

You can see more about the Elite Sports Programme here

Latest news

1

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin