Colin Victor Coates, OAM (born 4 April 1946) is a former ice speed skater from Australia, who represented his native country in a record six consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1968 in Grenoble, France.

He would finish his Olympic career in controversial circumstances, as although technically listed as an athlete for the 1988 Winter Olympics in the 10,000m, he was in reality a coach, with his athletic listing simply to make up numbers so that the Olympic team could take more support staff and also to allow Coates the ability to skate on the ice with the rest of the team during practice.

He was told by Chef de Mission Geoff Henke that he was not to compete, due to the Australian Skating Union refusing to give their permission.

After multiple denied requests by Coates, he gave the impression of having accepted his fate.

After being admonished by Henke, Coates received a telegram from then Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, congratulating him on a great performance at his sixth Olympic Games.