Brett Morse
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model, which is prohibited in Wikipedia articles. (July 2026) |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | British (Welsh) | ||
| Born | 11 February 1989 Penarth, Wales | ||
| Occupations | Professional model, sports performance coach | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Weight | 270 lb (120 kg) | ||
| Sport | |||
| Country |  Wales United Kingdom | ||
| Sport | Track and field | ||
Event | Discus throw | ||
| Club | Birchfield Harriers | ||
| Coached by | Andy Brittan (–2010) Vésteinn Hafsteinsson (2011–2012) Nigel Bevan (2015–) | ||
| Achievements and titles | |||
| Personal bests | 66.84m (Welsh record) | ||
Medal record
| |||
Brett Morse, OLY (born 11 February 1989) is a British professional model, sports performance coach, and former track and field athlete who competed in the discus throw. He represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics and is a four-time British champion.[1]
Biography
[edit]Born in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales,[2] Morse set the British under-20 discus record in 2008 with a mark of 60.46m, which stood for eleven years before being surpassed in 2019.[3] He attended Cardiff Metropolitan University but discontinued his studies to pursue full-time professional modeling, which he described in an interview as an "unexpected calling."[4] He is a member of the Birchfield Harriers athletics club.[1]
Athletics career
[edit]Under the guidance of coach Andy Brittan, he became the first Welshman to win the British discus title in 2010.[5] His career drew media attention when he was coached by Vésteinn Hafsteinsson, a partnership that was discussed in national media due to Hafsteinsson's historical competition ban following the 1984 Olympics.[6]
Despite the surrounding discussion, Morse represented Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, placing sixth.[7]
In 2011, Morse entered the European Under-23 Championships in Ostrava ranked first in his age category.[8] He recorded no mark in the final.[9] At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, he advanced to the final and finished 12th.[10]
2012 London Olympics
[edit]At the 2012 GB Olympic Trials in Birmingham, Morse secured second place with a throw of 62.27m.[11] He was subsequently selected for the Great Britain team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, competing at the Olympic Stadium in August 2012.[12]
He finished the year ranked 8th on the World Best list, one of only four British athletes to achieve a top-ten world ranking in their respective disciplines that year.[13]
In recognition of his status as an Olympian, he has since been granted the post-nominal title OLY by the World Olympians Association.
Later career and championships
[edit]Morse continued competing internationally, placing fifth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[14] He returned to train with former coach Nigel Bevan in 2015, and secured his fourth British discus championship title in 2018.[5]
International competitions
[edit]| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Great Britain and Wales | |||||
| 2010 | Commonwealth Games | Delhi, India | 6th | Discus throw | 58.91 m |
| 2011 | European U23 Championships | Ostrava, Czech Republic | — | Discus throw | NM |
| World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 12th | Discus throw | 62.69 m | |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 35th (q) | Discus throw | 58.18 m |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 23rd (q) | Discus throw | 59.23 m |
| 2014 | Commonwealth Games | Glasgow, United Kingdom | 5th | Discus throw | 60.48 m |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 10th | Discus throw | 56.70 m |
Post-athletics, modeling, and coaching
[edit]Following his retirement from elite discus, Morse transitioned into professional modeling, specializing in the "big and tall" and "muscle-fit" sectors. Represented by Bridge Models, he has featured in global campaigns for brands including Levi's, River Island, and Dressmann.[15]
Based in Cardiff, Morse operates as a sports performance coach, utilizing his Olympic background to train athletes in speed and strength development.
Health and advocacy
[edit]Morse has spoken publicly regarding his long-term diagnosis of Crohn's disease and his experiences with related depression and anxiety while maintaining a career in elite sports. He has collaborated with organizations like Crohn's & Colitis UK and advocated for increased mental health awareness among elite athletes.
Personal life
[edit]Morse resides in Cardiff, Wales, and is an active member of the South Wales athletic and football communities.
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Brett Morse: Team GB". British Olympic Association. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ "Brett Morse". BBC Wales. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ "James Tomlinson breaks British Under 20 discus record". Western Telegraph. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ Greenaway, Heather (12 November 2017). "Olympian turned top plus model is challenging male beauty standards". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- 1 2 "AAA Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ Hart, Simon (6 December 2011). "London 2012 Olympics: UK Athletics accused of encouraging Brett Morse to work with controversial coach". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Commonwealth Games 2010: Greene grabs Wales' first gold". BBC Sport. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ Finch, Hannah (21 March 2013). "Athletics: Discus ace Brett Morse heads British challenge in European Championships". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Brett MORSE". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "World Athletics 2011: Jessica Ennis edged out in Daegu". BBC Sport. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "GB Olympic Athletics Trials - as it happened". BBC Sport. 24 June 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "London 2012 Men's Discus Throw". Official site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ Finch, Hannah (21 March 2013). "Athletics: Discus ace Brett Morse heads British challenge in European Championships". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow Results - Men's Discus Throw". Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ↑ "Brett Morse Portfolio". Bridge Models. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- Living people
- 1989 births
- Sportspeople from Penarth
- Welsh men discus throwers
- British men discus throwers
- Olympic athletes for Great Britain
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Commonwealth Games athletes for Wales
- Alumni of Cardiff Metropolitan University
- British Athletics Championships winners
- 21st-century British sportsmen