Jump coach Kersee offers springboard to success
Glory for China's long jumpers and triple jumpers could be just a hop and a step away, following a week's training clinic with acclaimed US coach Bob Kersee.
US track coach Bob Kersee conducts a training clinic for Chinese athletes on Tuesday in Beijing. Kersee and his wife, two-time Olympic heptathlon gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, were invited to hold a four-day training camp in Beijing. Yang Shizhong |
Kersee and his wife, two-time Olympic heptathlon gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, came to Beijing for a four-day training camp for China's jump teams starting Monday this week.
After several classes with the Chinese jumpers, Kersee was quick to emphasize that more advanced technical training is needed.
"The Chinese jumpers have good quickness off the ground. (Improved) technique may make them better jumpers," Kersee said after training on Tuesday.
Kersee used his wife, the second longest female jumper in history, as an example of what can be achieved.
"Jackie was once poor technically. Jackie was in fourth or further place before she went on to win a medal," he said. "When she finally got things technically right, it took her from fourth place to first. That means you really have to focus on proper technique and concentrate on the right speed and rhythm to maximize your jump."
"In the coaching sessions, everybody realizes that speed and strength with proper technique is going to execute good and long jumps."
It sounds simple, but Kersee has nearly 25 years of coaching achievements to prove his point.
From 1984 to 1996 his wife Jackie Joyner-Kersee captured six Olympic medals under his tutelage. Some of Kersee's other top pupils include double Olympic 100m gold medalist Gail Devers, Athens 2004 110m hurdles champion Joanna Hayes and Jackie's late sister-in-law, four-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith-Joyner.
In June 1993 Kersee was named US Coach of the Year, and he received the honor again in 2004.
During the clinic Kersee told the Chinese athletes to pay more attention to technique, such as the final two steps before take-off and the body position through the air.
In one exercise Kersee introduced the use of hurdles, something not previously done by Chinese coaches. He made the athletes repeatedly jump over the hurdles, simulating the moment they take-off from the board, in order to improve their technique in the crucial initial jump phase.
Kersee also planned to share his coaching experience in stamina improvement and psychology.
Alongside Kersee and his wife were Tianna Madison, the 2005 women's long jump world champion, and Jackie's brother Al Joyner, himself an Olympic triple jump gold medalist.
"Since the Chinese athletes are not strong enough, they have little understanding themselves about how to perform well," said Feng Shuyong, vice director of the Chinese Athletics Administrative Center and head coach of China's national team.
"This time, Jackie will share her own feelings with the athletes, which will give them a direct guide."
Kersee's new methods were given the thumbs up by the Chinese jumpers.
"Kersee's training methods are totally new for us and I feel it is OK for me," said Xie Limei, gold medalist in women's triple jump at last year's Doha Asian Games.
"The methods seem to be suitable for us but we still have to improve our strength first."
Such clinics are not the first attempt to improve the fortunes of the national track and field team.
American double Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson and Bernard Lagat, a middle and long distance star runner, both members of the Nike Hall of Coaches, have been invited to help Chinese athletes and coaches.
Jamaican sprint legend Donald Quarrie has also held two training camps.
"The clinics by the world's top athletes and coaches broaden our minds and help the Chinese side know more about advanced training concepts and methods," said Feng.
As well as inviting elite foreign coaches, the governing body of the sport is also sending athletes and coaches abroad for high-level training.
In 2005 a seven-member team was sent to train with Johnson, and his legendary coach Clyde Hart, at the Ultimate Performance Training Camp in the University of Baylor in the United States for five and a half months.
One of these athletes was Yang Yaozu, China's best men's 200m runner. Yang won silver at the Doha Asian Games last year, and said that his time in the US was hugely beneficial.
"The training in the US helped me a lot, especially in the aspects of strength, technique and harmony of the body, which are my weaknesses," Yang said. "But the time was short. Just when the coach and I were getting used to each other, I had to go back."
Yang will soon have the opportunity to pick up where he left off when a group of ten athletes train with Johnson again. Yang said he would work with the coaches to find more suitable training methods.
"During last year's training, I combined Johnson's methods with our own, through which I have accumulated some experience for my future training," Yang said. "I won't train blindly with him, but instead actively add my own experiences. I believe this is the best way."
It is not just sprinters and jumpers who are getting a helping hand. A group of middle and long distance runners were sent to the US last year and race walkers were sent to Spain. Also, women's hammer hopefuls Gu Yuan and Hao Shuai travelled to Russia for eight months.
"We will enhance these exchanges with the world's top athletes and coaches this year," Feng said. "I believe communication with the world's best will help improve the training ideas of Chinese coaches and present more opportunities for them to see advanced training methods."
(China Daily 01/18/2007 page22)
