media_artricles :: 2016

Athletes, coaches pleased with MJP workshop

Take personal responsibility, focus on solutions rather than on the problems and have a plan, a strategy and priority for your training and performance. Those were the three key take-away messages that Olympic legend Michael Johnson delivered to coaches and athletes during their three-day workshop that concluded on Thursday at Olympic House in Port of Spain.

The event, entitled the Post Rio 2016 High Performance Workshop was hosted by BpTT, the Michael Johnson Performance Centre (MJP) and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee.

The main objective of the workshop was to engage athletes and coaches in a discussion about formulating strategy to improve the local high performance sport environment. Held both in Trinidad and Tobago, the event catered to Olympic and aspiring Olympic athletes in both team and individual sports and gave the athletes and coaches "a first-time opportunity to be part of the Team TTO strategic planning process for Tokyo 2020 and vision 10 golds24".

When it was over, TTOC President Brian Lewis said "the pathway to vision 10 or more Olympic Gold medals by the year 2024 is clearer".

Athletes were able to express their views, concerns, ideas, fears, goals, needs and wants in a planning framework aimed at clarifying the next step and action plan. Johnson, Lance Walker (MJP performance director), Lindsey Anderson (MJP Performance specialist) and Tobias Ottley (Sport Company of T&T Executive Manager, Elite Development Unit) were involved in the High Performance Strategic review sessions for local coaches and athletes.

Mickey Reuben, track and field coach at the University of the West Indies and owner of Speed Factory Track and Field Club, described the workshop as "powerful" and further said there is no price tag you can place on Michael Johnson's knowledge, experience and understanding of what needs to be done and the mindset required to be an Olympic and World champion.

Other key messages athletes heard were the importance of prioritising one's lifestyle to follow that of a high-performance athlete and focusing on the things you can control.

Rio 2016 Olympian boxer Nigel Paul thanked the TTOC for the opportunity to be part of the workshop: "It was informative, inspirational and motivational as I prepare for Tokyo 2020," he said.

The Michael Johnson Performance team also met with 1976 100m Olympic gold medalist Hasely Crawford, NAAA President Ephraim Serrette, Ottley and Lewis to brainstorm an integrated and collaborative high performance strategy aimed at producing consistent Olympic and World Championship podium success.

TTOC President Lewis stated that now that Rio 2016 is history, "we have to focus forward, take on board the lessons, keep our eyes on vision 10 or more Olympic gold medals by 2024, ensure that athletes are at the core of every single thing we (TTOC) do and above all, clarify our plan and strategy".

"The feedback from in particular the athletes has been extremely positive and constructive," Lewis concluded. "We must continue to include the athletes and seek their input."

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