It's the pinnacle of any athlete's career, and arguably the ultimate achievement of any coach - competing or coaching an athlete who goes on to compete in an Olympic Games. But for Trackseed1 coach John Powell, the feeling of elation if sprints favourite James Ellington makes it to Stratford this summer could be tinged with bitterness.
The statistics have been around for years as to how many countries, athletes, journalists, tourists, spectators... will converge on London in July, and the work needed to run the biggest show on earth is little short of phenomenal.
But for those who have toiled night and day, invested time, effort, money... blood, sweat, tears, and suffered tidal wave after tidal wave of emotion with the ups and downs of athlete progress, their reward is to watch their charge on the bniggest day of their lives - on TV in their own sitting room!
"Let's be vey clear here," says John. "This is not the fault of UK Athletics, or of the British Olympic Association. It is the way the International Ollympic Committee have always worked. Access for coaches is hugely restricted and always has been - remember Chariots of Fire?
"It doesn't make it any easier though, and because it's always been the case doesn't mean to say it shouldn't change. There are many sports whose coaches are afforded access, and of course UKA will have a full staff to support the athletes TeamGB send for the athletics events, and that support will be outstanding as always.
"But the personal coach? The guy who has worked for years and years with the athlete, ridden the rollercoaster of emotions any sporting career inevitably brings, and ultimately grooms one of the best athletes in a given discipline in the world? Unless he's lucky in the ticket lottery everyone else had to endure (and I wasn't!) it's a packet of crisps on the sofa in front of the TV!
"In my humble view it is a situation that needs complete review. If I had 30 minutes at the warmup track with my athlete, and 10 minutes standing in a corner in the stadium to watch him compete, and a brief hand-shake afterwards, that would be good enough for me. That would be reward enough for everything.
"But all too often personal coaches are treated with contempt by international governing bodies. Look at the World Youth Olympic Games in Singapore 2 years ago. With Trackspeed1's David Bolarinwa, the fastest guy on the planet at the time for his age, I couldn't even get a pass to coach him at the training track in the days running up to the Games. As for access to the event - forget it. Buy tickets or, in my case, chat up a journalist and sneak in the back door!
"It's not about the athlete being so reliant on their coach that they need me there - it's a respect thing. Without personal coaches sport would be on its back, and yet time and again they are taken for granted and treated with utter contempt.
"I have no doubt that venting my feelings on this blog will change nothing, but if anyone reading it is in a position to mount a challenge to proceedings for future years - feel free to get in touch. It's time for change!"
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Thursday, 8 March 2012
POWELL'S LITTLE MIRACLE!
Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has already begun celebrating 2012 in a way he never thought would be possible in his wildest dreams!
Baby daughter Jasmine was born on February 20th a healthy 7lb 5oz, and made history the moment she entered the world.
Some 21 years ago John was diagnosed with a cancer that went on to very nearly kill him, and he was told that one of the lasting after effects would be that he would never be able to father children again. But on advice of Doctors for that 'just in case' scenario, he froze some sperm in 1991.
Now married to his second wife, Chanphen, the couple decided in 2011 to cash in on his investment and they had enough money saved for just one round of IVF. To John's astonishment it worked, and nine months later, Jasmine Ellen Powell turned up!
"I'm in LaLa Land," said John. "I simply can't believe it. I look at Jasmine now and have to pinch myself to make sure this is all happening."
John's Cancer nightmare saw him relapse twice and have a pioneering bone marrow transplant back in 1991/2. His brush with death was rescued only by leading doctors at the time, for whose unit John then raised £7000. But the most amazing statistic of all is that Jasmine represents the 'oldest' baby ever born in Britain via IVF, and the third oldest in the world.
By tragic coincience, Trackspeed1 athlete Jason Hussain contractd the same desease as John in 2008, but by then treatments had moved on significantly, and within 20 days of finishing chemotherapy - amazingly - he was back on the track!
Jasmine already has a Trackspeed1 babygrow waiting to be worn, but she hasn't quite grown into it yet according to John. "I had one badged up for a bit of a giggle," he said, "and I'm sure she will be impressed when we put it on her!"
Baby daughter Jasmine was born on February 20th a healthy 7lb 5oz, and made history the moment she entered the world.
Some 21 years ago John was diagnosed with a cancer that went on to very nearly kill him, and he was told that one of the lasting after effects would be that he would never be able to father children again. But on advice of Doctors for that 'just in case' scenario, he froze some sperm in 1991.
Now married to his second wife, Chanphen, the couple decided in 2011 to cash in on his investment and they had enough money saved for just one round of IVF. To John's astonishment it worked, and nine months later, Jasmine Ellen Powell turned up!
"I'm in LaLa Land," said John. "I simply can't believe it. I look at Jasmine now and have to pinch myself to make sure this is all happening."
John's Cancer nightmare saw him relapse twice and have a pioneering bone marrow transplant back in 1991/2. His brush with death was rescued only by leading doctors at the time, for whose unit John then raised £7000. But the most amazing statistic of all is that Jasmine represents the 'oldest' baby ever born in Britain via IVF, and the third oldest in the world.
By tragic coincience, Trackspeed1 athlete Jason Hussain contractd the same desease as John in 2008, but by then treatments had moved on significantly, and within 20 days of finishing chemotherapy - amazingly - he was back on the track!
Jasmine already has a Trackspeed1 babygrow waiting to be worn, but she hasn't quite grown into it yet according to John. "I had one badged up for a bit of a giggle," he said, "and I'm sure she will be impressed when we put it on her!"
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| Proud Dad John Powell with baby Jasmine |
HUSSAIN HONOURED
Trackspeed1 sprinter Jason Hussain was given an early boost to his 2012 summer preparations last weekend when he featured among the highest honours at the annual Crawley Athletic Club's awards for 2011.
Jason, who moved from belgrave Harriers to become Crawley's sprints number one, set thier team alight with his performances last summer, despite an overall season of disappointment for the club as a whole in the British League.
Jason, now 25, and who represented Great Britain as a junior, received the British Athletics League 'Athletes' Athlete of the year' award, and was also presented with the Senior Men's Sports Personality of the Year award.
"I have really enjoyed my time with Crawley so far," said jason after the ceremony. "They are a great club with huge spirit which is what attracted me in the first place. You don't need to be at the very top to enjoy your athletics, be part of a great team, and achieve both peronally and as a group."
Jason flies off with trackspeed1 to the USA on April 1st to the group's annual warm weather training camp, and will return on May 1st hoping that 2012 will be as specila a year for him personally as it is l;ikely to be for the sport of track and field across the UK.
Jason, who moved from belgrave Harriers to become Crawley's sprints number one, set thier team alight with his performances last summer, despite an overall season of disappointment for the club as a whole in the British League.
Jason, now 25, and who represented Great Britain as a junior, received the British Athletics League 'Athletes' Athlete of the year' award, and was also presented with the Senior Men's Sports Personality of the Year award.
"I have really enjoyed my time with Crawley so far," said jason after the ceremony. "They are a great club with huge spirit which is what attracted me in the first place. You don't need to be at the very top to enjoy your athletics, be part of a great team, and achieve both peronally and as a group."
Jason flies off with trackspeed1 to the USA on April 1st to the group's annual warm weather training camp, and will return on May 1st hoping that 2012 will be as specila a year for him personally as it is l;ikely to be for the sport of track and field across the UK.
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| Jason won the London Indoor games 200m last month |
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
2012 a year to remember already!
Trackspeed1 is already billing 2012 as a year to etch into the history books!
Coming soon on this blog - news of coach John Powell's new addition, but who won't be training with the squad for a good few years to come...
...And an athlete being honoured for his achievements during the 2011 season. Full update and details here in the next 48 hours!
Coming soon on this blog - news of coach John Powell's new addition, but who won't be training with the squad for a good few years to come...
...And an athlete being honoured for his achievements during the 2011 season. Full update and details here in the next 48 hours!
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