Doug MacDonald

Coach developer | Coach | Mentor | Learning Consultant | Podcaster | Climber | Dad. Work for @BritishRowing | Board trustee @SiMBA_team | All comments my own.

[Doug MacDonald @PosCoachDev]

So this happened tonight....deeply humbled to win this at the @sportscotland #COVawards tonight. Way too many people to thank but thank you to all those who have inspired me, challenged me and sustained me - my "critical friends" 😊 #neverstoplearning @alynswim #coaching

[sportscotland @sportscotland]

#COVawards | Congratulations to Doug MacDonald, Coach Developer of the Year!

Doug is dedicated to developing high quality coaching practice, leading projects at both national squad and at grassroots level.

📽️ https://t.co/AxzGfCEtt9

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

New British Rowing Coaching Qualifications and Training are here👇

✅ New ‘Coach’ qualification
✅ Recognition of Prior Learning
✅ Coaching Refresh

A clearer, more accessible pathway for coaches at every stage.

Find out more👇
https://t.co/Her1EsLE5Q

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

Three rowers from Maidenhead Rowing Club receive Royal Humane Society Awards 👏

Sharon Mower, George Foot and Jo Stringer were presented their certificates for saving the life of a woman who ran into difficulties in December last year.

Read more👇
https://t.co/8ePrysW1aG

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

GB Rowing Team to race World Rowing Indoor Championships 🇬🇧

Once again, the GB Rowing Team will travel to Birmingham to race the very best from across the UK and around the world 💥

Read more 👇
https://t.co/NFm6aFyHXy

[Steve Magness @stevemagness]

Dolly Parton represented the best of us.

She was enormously ambitious. But instead of being consumed by that success, she turned it outward toward family, community, literacy, health, jobs, and people who needed help.

“I just see a need and if I can fill it, then I will.”

She's a case study in choosing status based on prestige instead of dominance.

In a world of me, me, me, she looked at how she could make a difference. She became beloved not just because she could sing or act, but because of what she gave back, to the difference she made. For such a talented person, she gained admiration by giving back.

You can see it in her book program. "Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done.”

Her dad couldn't read or write. So in his honor, she's given away over 300 million books for kids to read.

It's right there in her "Buddy Program."

When she saw that the high school dropout rate was over 30% in her home county, she put together a program where 7th and 8th graders picked a buddy. And if they both graduated high school, they got $500.

The dropout rate fell to 6%. It was pure genius, it took an individual problem and transformed it into: We're responsible for getting each other to the finish line.

“It’s always nice to be recognized for what you do, although that’s not why you do it.”

She embodied mastery. It's the acknowledgment that external success is fine, but it can never be the reason you do the work. That's got to be something far greater.

Dolly is the perfect representation of what it actually means to strive for and reach success. She was a both/and.

Ferociously ambitious AND generous.

Business-savvy AND compassionate.

Competitive enough to protect her work AND secure enough to share attention.

Massively famous AND rooted in where she came from.

Dolly Parton's life is an example of what greatness really looks like:

Work your ass off at something you care about.
Strive, but out of a place of mastery
Bring others along with you.
Know what matter to you and protect it.
Be yourself and go all the way.

And once you have enough power to help…
Help lift everyone else up.

Or as Parton put it, "Figure out who you want to be and be that person on purpose."

Prestige is given through skill and contribution.
Dolly earned every bit of it.

We lost a legend of a person today.

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

Lymington Amateur Rowing Club dominate at the English Junior Beach Sprint Championships 💥

Catch up on all the action 👇
https://t.co/Eolniv9iLv

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

28 athletes selected for FISU World University Rowing Championships 2026 🇬🇧

Meet the team travelling to London, Ontario, Canada 💪

Read more 👇
https://t.co/AglPzM7quM

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

Applications for the Performance Coach Development Programme are open!

The programme helps coaches develop strong performance pathways, supporting coaches to fulfil their potential and progress athletes towards the world stage.

Find out more and apply👇
https://t.co/fWM7TuRxUl

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

GB Rowing Team selected for the 2026 World Rowing Championships

47 athletes have been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 24-30 August.

Meet the team 👇
https://t.co/vHugJhc9aD

📸 @amynicholasphoto

[World Rowing @WorldRowing]

It is with heavy hearts World Rowing mourns the passing of Olaf Tufte of Norway, 4x Olympic medallist and 6x World Championship medallist.

A fierce competitor on the water, and a great friend to everyone off of it, Olaf was also a recipient of the Thomas Keller Medal, the highest distinction in the sport.

Our hearts go out to Olaf’s family, the Norwegian Rowing Federation, and the entire rowing community.

[Matt Mole @MattMoleSTART]

Isaac selected for Team GB! 🇬🇧

It has been awesome to support Isaac Morris during his time with the British Rowing Performance Development Academy.

The work he’s put in has made this well deserved. First @Leedsrowing athlete to represent GB at U23 level.

Proud coach. 🚣🇬🇧

[Team GB @TeamGB]

Two-time Olympic medallist 🥉
Four-time Tour de France winner 🟡
Cycling legend 👑

Chris Froome has officially announced his retirement from cycling 🚴

What a career @chrisfroome 👏

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

The gods will be watching this one ⚡️

Fifty athletes have been selected to race on the Rotsee ahead of World Rowing Cup III, including a senior debut for Josh Knight 🚣‍♂️

Racing starts 26 June.

https://t.co/MZ3vzwMqnz

[Eilidh Doyle @EilidhDoyle]

Perfect time for this photo to resurface! 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[Scottish Swimming @ScottishSwim]

Completing the squad ✅

Here are the 25 swimmers who will take to Tollcross this summer for Team Scotland, alongside the 7 Para Swimmers already announced 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Who are you most excited about watching this summer for Scotland? 💙

Full story: https://t.co/Dy6W2EGTsa

[Andrew Woodroffe @andrewwoodroffe]

Red-S gets talked about A LOT but what isn't spoken about is the period after, what comes next and balancing that.

My partner has written a brilliant article for Project Red S about her experience and it's well worth a read and share! Proud of that!

https://t.co/8Wb0xywwuh

[Emily Handyside @Emily_Handyside]

The best thing I can do for Wales is handover at a moment of genuine strength so that continued success can be built on those foundations.

I feel genuine pride and fulfilment and am excited for this final chapter of the Commonwealth Games. https://t.co/RdFrIZ9osv

[British Rowing @BritishRowing]

“I hope athletes come away feeling more confident in understanding their own bodies”

Join GB Rowing Team members Juliette Perry and Heidi Long, to discuss the management of various challenges that female athletes encounter.

Wednesday 13 May at 19:30👇
https://t.co/5g73xcuT44

[SNBTS-Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service @givebloodscot]

These are Scotland's current bloodstocks levels: We need you to come forward to give blood now.
Please contact us if you need help booking your appointment.
Call 0345 90 90 999
Visit https://t.co/Im2ssUNx9r
Email: [email protected]

[Andrew Woodroffe @andrewwoodroffe]

For what it’s worth on #londonmarathon

I don’t think it should be a two day event! I ran yesterday and being on the same course and moment as a sub 2 is pretty special

That’s the beauty from 1:59-5+ hours we are all on the same course conditions and day

It’s why it’s unique!

[Tristan Mayglothling @TMayglothling]

Women are not small men. Quite a lot of work to do. Starts with researching what equipment/spec would suit women. A few examples - the size of a rugby match ball and a football goal.