Reynaldo Walcott compares coaching Elaine Thompson-Herah to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

ATHLETICS Reynaldo Walcott compares coaching Elaine Thompson-Herah to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Abigael Wafula 11:52 - 27.03.2024

Reynaldo Walcott has revealed the journey in coaching Elaine Thompson-Herah in comparison to training Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Reynaldo Walcott has disclosed how it feels training double Olympic champion (100m and 200m) Elaine Thompson-Herah ahead of her Olympic title defense at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Walcott, who also coaches multiple World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce explained that like Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah is easy to work with and he enjoys training her.

Thompson-Herah parted ways with her former coach Shanikie Osbourne late last year and joined Fraser-Pryce’s training group with the hope of sharpening her talons in this Olympic season.

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Her new coach, Walcott, explained that Thompson-Herah is hungrier for more success and she does what the coach instructs her and obeys his instructions fully.

“Persons who have achieved a lot tend to be very focused so it’s way easier to work with mature athletes and younger athletes most times because their goals and different and they understand what it means to be successful and understand what it takes to be successful.

“What I get on a day-to-day basis is an Elaine who is hungry, an Elaine who is willing to do whatever I ask of her and it’s the same thing with Shelly-Ann.

“I’ve had instances with Shelly-Ann where I don’t have to tell her to do something twice and most times, she would be the one nudging me and asking what the plans are,” he told Citius Mag.

He noted that the Jamaican duo is always after perfecting their craft and is motivated to keep working hard, something that makes it easy for him to work with them.

He noted that they do not train together, however, since everyone has aspects that they need to work on and they train at different times ahead of different competitions.

Going into the Olympic season, the veteran tactician explained that he has a lot of expectations and the Jamaicans are also looking forward to what they can achieve. Nonetheless, he does not want to put a lot of pressure on them to deliver.

“They are so hungry despite the success they have achieved so far. I think it’s a matter of perfecting your craft. They are motivated to keep working and that’s what makes me happy when I go to bed at night and wake up in the morning rejuvenated.

“Each person trains based on their needs and the event they are participating in and based on their conditions. For all the members of my group, the training times that they get are just relative to the stuff that they have to do based on their own needs and that applies to everybody.

“I expect a lot from them and I know they expect a lot from themselves. Jamaicans also expect a lot from them and that’s never lost on either party whether it’s a coach or athlete or the expectation of the nation,” he added.

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