How much do you really know about your colleagues? This month, we're getting the lowdown on new members to Sport Wales, Catering Supervisor, Sarah Coates and Relationship Manager, Claire Lane.
Would you like to take part in a future edition? If so, please get in touch with amy.crane@sport.wales.
Claire Lane
What have you read, watched, or listened to recently that you’d recommend? “Careless People; Power, Greed, Madness” by Sarah Wynn-Williams. It’s a book about an employee’s time at Facebook in the 2010s. The stories will make you question your entire use of social media platforms and the influence it has on you and your decisions.
Who would you want to play you in a film of your life? Jennifer Lawrence or Emily Blunt.
What’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Rowing, but I think I'm too short to be any good at it!
List two things that annoy you… People who stop in the middle of a busy pavement with no warning and leaving the dishes on top of the dishwasher...Just open the door and put them in!
What animal would you choose to be? Either a Jaguar or a Golden Eagle (technically not an animal I know!) .
What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago? Keep doing what you enjoy and don’t worry what anyone else thinks.
You get to choose four famous people (dead or alive) to join you for dinner – who are you asking? David Attenborough, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Billie Jean King and Ranulph Fiennes.
What or who were you obsessed with growing up? According to my Mum I was obsessed with winning and beating my older brother at everything! I turned everything into a competition and was a very annoying little sister about it. I’m happy to share that I am a lot more chilled out now, and a much better looser when required, apart from on a netball court...
Happiness is… Fresh air, good health, surrounded by loved ones.
Guilty pleasure? Terrible Christmas romance films...You know the ones where they must save the Christmas tree farm/bookshop/bakery etc and the main character never goes back to whatever city they were visiting from. But never before 1st December!
Tell us something about yourself that you’re really proud of. That I’ve been invited to speak in Westminster and the Senedd at different events championing young people and the power of sport, and that I won ‘best garden for wildlife’ in my village show. Two very different parts of my life right there!
What was your first job? My first ‘real’ job was as the Physical Literacy coordinator in a nursery school in Plymouth, but not before spending many years working in my best friend’s dad’s pub behind the bar and waitressing.
If you could cameo in a TV show which one would you pick? Any British crime drama series!
If you could be one sports star for a day, who would you be? Fran Williams, West Coast Fever and England Netballer – arguably one of the best defenders in the world right now. I’d love to see what it means to be a professional netballer in Australia and figure out how we can turn that into a reality in the UK too.
If you could live in any movie universe, which one would it be and why? Harry Potter – because the books were basically my entire teenage life!
How long have you worked at Sport Wales? I started on Monday 4 May 2026.
Sarah Coates
What have you read, watched, or listened to recently that you’d recommend? All Thursday Murder Club books and its film adaptation on Netflix.
Who would you want to play you in a film of your life? Olivia Colman.
What’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? Canicross.
List two things that annoy you… Background noise and rain.
What animal would you choose to be? A bird.
What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago? Apply for a job in Sport Wales.
You get to choose four famous people (dead or alive) to join you for dinner – who are you asking? Melissa McCarthy, Ruth Jones, Peter Kay and Mel C.
What or who were you obsessed with growing up? Annika Sörenstam.
Happiness is… Having everyone at home and healthy.
Guilty pleasure? Eating a bag of Haribo Gold Bears in one go.
Tell us something about yourself that you’re really proud of. Winning the overall Women's Titleist Order of Merit at the prestigious Carnoustie Golf Links course in 2018 starting with over 33k entrants. Also coming away with the Team prize for Wales!!
What was your first job? Bar Associate JD Wetherspoon.
If you could cameo in a TV show which one would you pick? Mammoth.
If you could be one sports star for a day, who would you be? Tiger Woods.
If you could live in any movie universe, which one would it be and why? Zootopia, a universe made by animals for animals what is there not to love?
How long have you worked at Sport Wales? Almost 2 months.
