Below you will find live interviews with some of the top coaches and athletes from around the world.  Please check back frequently as the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre will be updating this audio content frequently.  Audio files from previous years can be found under the Interview Collection '06 and Interview Collection '07 links.

Note: each interview is available for download by right clicking on the link and selecting "save target as".  If you wish to listen to the interview immediately from your computer, you can double click on the WMA link and it will automatically play from your computer using Windows Media Player.  Download time varies depending on your Internet connection when saving the MP3 or WMA file to your computer.  **If your download should timeout, simply click the same file to begin downloading again; the file should continue from where it stopped.**

Current Interviews:

Michael Khmel
UK men's 4x100m relay Coach, Olympic Coach
Interview Date: March 27, 2009
Duration: 72:25 mins
File Size: 66MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Michael Khmel, a former international athlete and bobsledder, is a world renowned sprint and relays coach. Michael was the head coach of the Australian sprint and relays team leading into the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and was the personal coach to Matt Shirvington, the then Australian 100m national record holder. Michael has also been the Netherlands relay team coach, before finally, in 2006, taking over the United Kingdom’s men’s 4x100m relay team. He continues to coach a stable of world class sprinting talent alongside his duties to prepare the UK’s sprint relay team for the 2012 London Olympics.

In this interview, Michael goes into great detail on his coaching background and philosophy. He begins by talking about his development as a coach, and points to a few coaches that became mentors and great influences. As a big part of his expertise lays in the sprint relay, he carefully answers a number of questions on the important elements of this event, including how to manage the athletes, what to do to prepare a world class team, his preferred passing technique and the ordering of runners. Since Coach Khmel has also produced a number of world class sprinters, the suggestions he gives on how to structure a weekly plan in both the preparation and competition phases is invaluable information. Michael’s wide range of experience and years of study results in some exceptional advice given in this fantastic interview.

Jack Agrios
Chairman, Eighth IAAF World Championships in Athletics
Interview Date: May 14, 2009
Duration: 78:23 mins
File Size: 72MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

In his role as chairman of the Eighth IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Edmonton, Canada in 2001, Jack, a lawyer by profession, played host to over 1,800 athletes from 200 countries and half a million spectators. The 2001 Games were the first, and to date only, IAAF World Championships to be held in North America. Jack is no stranger to sport, however, as he was the past director of the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club, who play in the Canadian Football League, as well as chairman of the Legal Committee of the World University Games held in Edmonton in 1983. Jack has also served as counsel responsible for the alliance between the National Football League and the Canadian Football League and in 2002 he received the Order of Canada for outstanding service to law and sport.

In this interview Jack provides a number of insights into effective leadership as it regards event management, team building and indeed coaching. He also speculates on the future of athletics and discusses a number of branding, marketing, sponsorship and presentation strategies that can help athletics increase its global reach. Further, as a lawyer, Jack is uniquely qualified to discuss the emergence of athletes’ agents and managers and how this growing profession can impact on contracts and fair renumeration packages for coaches. For any coach concerned with the strategic positioning of athletics and how global trends in sport are impacting on athlete recruitment and development this is a must listen to interview.

Margo Jennings

Olympic Coach

Interview Date: March 28, 2009

Duration: 78:18 mins

File Size: 72MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Margo Jennings’s coaching career, of more than 25 years, has seen her bring two athletes to the pinnacle of our sport. In 2000, at the Sydney Olympic Games, Maria Mutola from Mozambique, who Jennings had been coaching since 1991, won gold in the 800 metres. Then in 2004, at the Athens Olympic Games, Kelly Holmes, of Great Britain, who Jennings had been coaching for two years, won both the 800 meters and 1500 meters. Without question, these are markers of a coach who knows how to have her athletes peak when it counts.

In this fascinating interview, where Jennings outlines the “Maria Mutola Story” and how she became one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time, she also goes into great detail regarding her long-term planning philosophy and how she breaks-up an athlete’s year into key phases and transitions including the specifics of how to bring an athlete to his or her peak. Also discussed is Jenning’s coaching style that involves a strong individual approach to athlete development. For any middle-distance coach looking to learn from one of our sport’s most successful coaches this is a must-listen-to interview from a coach who has certainly done it all.

Jon Ridgeon
British Olympian, Fast Track Managing Director
Interview Date: February 20, 2009
Duration: 26:45 mins
File Size: 25MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Jon Ridgeon is a former British Olympian who is now the managing director of Fast Track, a sports marketing company based out of the UK. Jon enjoyed great success in his career as a hurdler over both the 110m and 400m distances. He is the 1985 European junior gold medalist and silver medalist at both the 1986 World Junior Championships and the 1987 World Championships in the sprint event. In addition, he was a semi-finalist at the 1996 Olympics for the 400m hurdles. He has transferred his success from the track to the business world with the hosting of several premier athletics events throughout Europe.

In this interview, Jon discusses his interesting and unique history as a world class hurdler, the state of hurdling in the UK, and offers advice to emerging athletes on how to make a career out of the sport. He then talks about his role with Fast Track, namely the work that he and his company does in developing some of the finest athletics meetings in the world. He shares his insight on the business challenges facing the sport today and what must be done to further grow the sport, before concluding with future challenges he wishes to undertake.

Gary Reed

Olympian – 800m

Interview Date: January 4, 2009

Duration: 31:44 mins / 49:48 mins

File Size: 29MB / 46MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download Part I: MP3 / WMA

Download Part II: MP3 / WMA

Gary Reed, a two time Olympian, is one of the most successful Canadian track athletes in the sport today. He is the Canadian national record holder in the 800m with a time of 1:43:68 and is the first Canadian to break both the 1:45 and 1:44 barriers. Gary is the 2007 World Championships silver medalist and recently finished 4th at the Beijing Olympics. Gary is an exceptional role model for all Canadian athletes due to his incredible work ethic and dedication to the sport, and is the idol of many younger Canadian athletes in athletics.

In part one of this candid interview, Gary begins by talking about how his upbringing has influenced his career, what excites him to pursue further goals, how he deals with pressure and his competition tendencies. Continuing on with this, he gives a very open interpretation of effective racing tactics in the 800m, and how he mentally and physically prepares for major competitions. 

In part two, Gary discusses his training with world renowned endurance coach Wynn Gmitroski, and specifically the way that they train qualities such as maximal speed and strength. Furthermore, Gary reveals their general training philosophy including the structure of weekly plans and the control of the quality of work being done. He also answers questions concerning his implementation of therapy and nutrition into his training regime. To conclude the interview, Gary gives the listener a very clear picture as to maturation of his career and some of the difficulties he has had to overcome.

Tony Lester
Senior Performance Coach, UK Athletics
Duration: 37:03 mins
File Size: 34MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download: MP3 / WMA

Tony Lester, a former warrant officer in the British army, is one of Europe’s top sprint coaches. Currently he is a senior performance coach with UK Athletics, and his resume includes training the likes of Olympic 400m silver medalist Roger Black, Olympic medalist Marlon Devonish, former world junior 200m champion Tim Benjamin and 2007 World 400m silver medalist Nicola Sanders. Although having experienced success in all the sprint events, Coach Lester’s expertise is mainly in the 400m race.

In this interview with Coach Lester, he begins with a discussion on his background and upbringing as a coach in the sport. He then offers his ideas on the training of the 400m, such as the role of maximal speed and speed endurance in this event, the structure of a weekly plan, and the development of strength he employs. He offers his views on planning and periodization, planning for a major competition such as the recent Olympics, and the importance of therapy in his program. Tony also reveals his thoughts on the coaching structure and athlete development system in the UK as we move towards the London 2012 Olympics.

George Gandy
Director of Athletics, Loughborough University
Interview Date: November 21, 2008
Duration: 60:43
File Size: 56MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download Part I: MP3 / WMA

George Gandy is the Director of Athletics at Loughborough University and a former Great Britain & Northern Ireland Olympic Team Coach and England Team Coach for the Commonwealth Games. His coaching CV is one of the most impressive in athletics. In the last 30 years George has coached or advised over 75 international track and field athletes, most notably, Sebastian Coe, the double-Olympic 1500m champion, and now chair of the London Olympic Organizing Committee, who as a student at Loughbourough University turned to George for advice specifically related to developing his strength, speed, power and flexibility. It was a relationship that spawned recognition across the running world for the “Loughborough Circuit”. George’s recent coaching accomplishments include Jon Brown’s fourth place marathon finishes at the Sydney and Athens Olympics and Lisa Dobriskey’s fourth place in the 1500m at the Beijing Olympics. In 2003 George was inducted into the United Kingdom Coaching Hall of Fame and in July of this year, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Loughborough University for services to University sport.

In this interview, George discusses in detail his development as a coach through the 1960s and ‘70s and how the sport, and specifically practices related to coaching, have changed. He outlines the history of the Loughborough Circuit, including his inspiration for its creation and how it has evolved over the last thirty years. He also discusses the intricacies of preparing middle-distance runners for championship racing and what his experiences working with some of the world’s greatest runners has taught him. For any endurance coach looking for inspiration and advice from one of athletics’ true coaching luminaries, this is a must-listen-to interview.

Vince Anderson
Assistant Coach – Texas A&M University
Interview Date: November 15, 2008
Duration: 43:33 mins / 40:17 mins
File Size: 40MB / 37MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download Part I: MP3 / WMA
Download Part II: MP3 / WMA

Vince Anderson, the assistant coach at Texas A&M University, is a world class sprint, hurdle and relay coach. He has coached a number of athletes to NCAA and US national titles, including Leonard Scott, Jabari Greer, Justin Gatlin, Gary Kikaya and most recently, Muna Lee, the 2008 US Olympic trials champion in the women’s 100m. Prior to his current position at Texas A&M, Anderson established an outstanding coaching record across 16 years at the University of Tennessee. Vince has also coached a number of world class combined event specialists, including 4-time US national champion Tom Pappas.

In part one of this interview, Coach Anderson begins by reviewing his history and development as a coach. He then goes into great detail about his training program, including examples of weekly plans in both the general and special preparatory periods. He also talks about some technical aspects of sprinting and the evaluation of technique in general. And finally, his thoughts on the inclusion of various strength parameters, such as maximal and elastic strength, into a training plan rounds out this portion of the interview.

In the second part of the interview, Vince gives some great advice on a number of topics related to training and coaching. The matters discussed include his philosophy of combined events training, the training of 2008 American 100m champion Muna Lee, dealing with a major games environment and some highlights of his career. Perhaps most importantly, the methods of planning and periodization which Coach Anderson subscribes to are talked about in great detail. For coaches of all abilities, this interview offers no shortage of valuable information and insight.

Eamonn Coghlan

Former Olympian

Interview Date: December 11, 2008

Duration: 74:36 mins

File Size: 69MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Eamonn Coghlan, or as he is best known, the Chairman of the Boards, dominated the indoor track scene through the late 1970s and 1980s. He broke the World Record for the mile three times and won the fabled Wannamaker Mile at the Millrose Games a record seven times. Born in Dublin, Ireland Eamonn came of age as a runner in the United States: first as a student at Villanova and then as a “New Yorker” during his post-collegiate career. Eamonn placed fourth in two Olympics—1976 and 1980—before striking gold in Helsinki in 1983 at the inaugural World Athletics Championships. Eamonn ended his running career in 1994 with his 78th, and some would say most significant, sub-four minute mile as he became the first, and to date only, masters athlete to break four minutes. Off the track Eamonn has led a distinguished family and professional life, and he remains involved in athletics through a number of marketing, fundraising and media projects. If there is anyone in the world equipped to comment on the state of athletics and the changes the sport has undergone in the last three decades it is Eamonn Coghlan.

In this interview, Eamonn considers his breadth of experiences as a world-class athlete, sports administrator, author, sports broadcaster and coach to reflect on the challenges facing athletics in Ireland and the rest of the world. Optimistic by nature, Eamonn outlines some clear visions and understandings with regards to developing young athletes and promoting the sport. He is clearly a former champion who is not content to sit on his laurels and let others get down to work. Rather, Eamonn conveys, both through his words and his actions, a deep desire to support athletes in their quest for excellence as the bottom-line of any coaching or national program. His sincerity and commitment to this goal is clear to see in this interview making it, without question, an uplifting and encouraging listen and a great way to usher in the 2009 athletics year.

Dylan Armstrong

Olympian – Shot Put

Interview Date: November 7, 2008

Duration: 35:41 mins

File Size: 33MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Dylan Armstrong is Canada’s national record holder in the shot put and the first man in Canadian history to throw over 21m in the event. Dylan’s 4th place finish at the Beijing Olympics was Canada’s greatest finish ever in the shot and its best finish in a throwing event in nearly 100 years. He has won multiple national titles in the shot put and the hammer, is the 2007 Pan Am champion in the shot put, and was the silver medalist in the hammer at the World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile. He still trains and resides in his hometown of Kamloops, British Columbia and is coached by the legendary Dr. Anatoly Bondarchuk.

In this interview Dylan shares his thoughts on a number of interesting topics including his athletic background, experience at the Beijing Olympics and his view on the rotational shot put technique. Dylan also answers questions on a number of issues regarding his training methodology under Dr. Bondarchuk, including the type of strength training and training periodization that they employ. This is a great interview with one of Canada’s brightest stars in the sport and his tutelage under one of the world’s premier throws coaches

Jim Denison

Sports Sociologist and Coach

Interview Date; Sept 4, 2008

Duration: 48:18 mins

File Size: 44MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download Part I: MP3 / WMA

Download Part II: MP3 / WMA

Dr. Jim Denison is an associate professor at the University of Alberta, and is a specialist in the areas of coaching and social sport theory. He is the university’s academic liaison for the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre and is the associate editor of the Sociology of Sport journal. Of the numerous contributions to the literature in his areas of expertise, Jim is most well known for authoring Haile Gebrselassie’s biography “The Greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story” and “Bannister and Beyond: The Mystique of the Four Minute Mile,” a collection of interviews from a wide array of sub four minute milers. He is also contributes regularly as an endurance interviewer to our interview collections.

In part one of this two part interview Dr. Denison discusses a number of topics related to endurance running from the African perspective. First, he talks about his background in the sport and how his understanding of endurance training has evolved throughout his career both as an athlete and as a coach. He goes on to discuss the Beijing endurance results, the appearance of Kenyan success in the women’s events, his relationship with Gebrselassie (and the process of writing his biography), the coaching situation in east Africa and the current state of endurance running from a global point of view. For all fans of athletics this in an insightful interview into the world of African endurance running.

In diagnosing a particular problem, often a coach will ask themselves whether the problem was a biomechanical, physiological or mental one. Rarely do coaches analyze the impact that the social environment had on the problem. In part two of this interview, Jim begins by introducing the basic premises of Foucauldian theory, a well known social theory, and then moves on to discussing their relevance to training theory. For instance, Foucauldian theory provides a different and detailed analysis of the coach-athlete power structure and the dangers a coach should be aware of when being strict and controlling. The conclusion to this interview provides a sobering look at some social aspects of coaching that are often overlooked.

John Cook
Coach
Interview Date: September 26, 2008
Duration: 51:33 minutes
File Size: 47MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download: MP3 / WMA

On many counts John Cook could not have had a better 2008 as a coach. His three athletes all made the US Olympic Team—Shalane Flanagan in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres and Shannon Rowbery and Erin Donahue in the 1500 metres. Add to that a bronze medal from Flanagan in the 10,000m—the only US medal from 800m up to the marathon—and you have all the ingredients of a fairy tale summer. However, it is coach Cook’s obsession with excellence, discipline and detail, along with his high expectations of those around him, that made 2008 one of the most frustrating season’s in this long career coaching at the sharp end of track and field.

In this riveting follow-up interview, coach Cook talks openly and honestly, beginning with the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, about each step of the way on the “Road to Beijing”. He recounts the struggles and setbacks his team encountered, but how in the end they came together to produce some outstanding results. He also comments on the future of the endurance events and his beliefs about what coaches, athletes and governing bodies need to do to keep pace with the Africans. This is a hard-hitting, frank and fascinating interview with one of the most creative, innovative and original coaching minds working in athletics today.

Elio Locatelli
IAAF Member Services Director, Olympic Coach
Interview Date: September 26, 2008
Duration: 45:00 minutes
File Size: 44MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Elio Locatelli is the former chief athletics coach for Italy and world renowned jumps coach. Currently he is the IAAF Member Services Director, which oversees all IAAF Accredited Training Centre’s, as well as all high performance and developmental training initiatives. Elio is a strong proponent of coaching professionalism, and his drive for coaching development has had many positive consequences globally. Results of his work include the creation of the IAAF coaching commission and a string of 12 IAAF Coaching Academies spread across the athletics world. He was recently involved as an organizer and lecturer for the IAAF elite coach training course here at the University of Alberta, where we were able to sit down with him.

In this interview, Elio discusses a number of factors surrounding coaching development. Topics discussed include his background in coaching, professionalizing coaching, the need to develop coaches and advice for young coaches. He also talks about the challenges facing the European countries (specifically after a relatively poor showing in Beijing), the possibility of having a successful high performance stream without alienating the developmental coaching base, what he consistently notices from the top athletics nations and the some of the biggest issues facing our sport globally. This interview gives fantastic insight into the current state and future direction of the athletics coaching profession.

Dr. Jim Denison

Sports Sociologist and Coach

Interview Date: Sept 4, 2008

Duration: 63:13 min

File Size: 58MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download MP3 / WMA

Dr. Jim Denison is an associate professor at the University of Alberta, and is a specialist in the areas of coaching and social sport theory. He is the university’s academic liaison for the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre and is the associate editor of the Sociology of Sport journal. Of the numerous contributions to the literature in his areas of expertise, Jim is most well known for authoring Haile Gebrselassie’s biography “The Greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story” and “Bannister and Beyond: The Mystique of the Four Minute Mile,” a collection of interviews from a wide array of sub four minute milers. He is also contributes regularly as an endurance interviewer to our interview collections.

In part one of this two part interview Dr. Denison discusses a number of topics related to endurance running from the African perspective. First, he talks about his background in the sport and how his understanding of endurance training has evolved throughout his career both as an athlete and as a coach. He goes on to discuss the Beijing endurance results, the appearance of Kenyan success in the women’s events, his relationship with Gebrselassie (and the process of writing his biography), the coaching situation in east Africa and the current state of endurance running from a global point of view. For all fans of athletics this in an insightful interview into the world of African endurance running.

Dr. Gerry Ramogida

Chiropractor, Canadian Olympic Team Medical Staff Member (Athletics)

Interview Date: June 28, 2008

Duration: 49:55 mins

File Size: 46MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download Part II: MP3 / WMA

Dr. Gerry Ramogida is a certified chiropractor, acupuncturist and Active Release practitioner who has worked with numerous international athletics stars such as Bruny Surin, Donovan Bailey and Mark Boswell. He is also the team chiropractor for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He currently works with Canadian Record holders Tyler Christopher and Adam Kunkel and was named to the 2008 Canadian Olympic team for athletics as team medical staff.

In part two of this two-part interview Dr. Ramogida begins by introducing a new understanding of the function of fascia and the important role it plays in athletic performance. He then moves to a discussion of various goals of therapy for athletes, mainly the balance of muscle function and desired levels of muscle tone. He also discusses various issues relevant to physical therapy that the athlete should be responsible for, such as hydration, nutrition, supplement implementation, hydrotherapy and the importance of a proper cool down. For coaches interested in advancing their therapy protocols, this video is a must.

Falk Schade
Coach & Biomechanist
Interview Date: April 26, 2008
Duration: 33:44 mins
File Size: 31MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Falk Schade is a biomechanist and combined events coach for the IAAF Accredited Training Centre at the German Sport University in Cologne. Falk, a former decathlete himself, has focused his research on the energy systems of the pole vault, and his publications offer a biomechanical approach to viewing optimal technique in this event.

In this interview Falk discusses his history as a sport scientist, characteristics of an elite pole vaulter and the mechanics, prerequisites and possible efficiency of the free takeoff. He stresses the importance of transferring energy to the pole through the run-up and plant, reducing the energy loss at takeoff and maximizing the energy transfer from the pole to the athlete after maximum pole bend. This interview is a great opportunity for a coach to understand some of the more biomechanical aspects of the pole vault.

Suzy Powell-Roos

Olympic Athlete – Discus

Interview Date: April 11, 2008

Duration: 25:51 mins

File Size: 24MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA







Suzy Powell-Roos has been throwing the discus since she was 10 years old. She is now the reigning American record holder with a PR of 67.67m, a three time Olympian, and a seven-time U.S. Outdoor Championships medalist. Formerly from the UCLA throws program Suzy is currently an athlete out of the Tri-Valley Athletics program in Stockton, CA.

In this inspiring interview Suzy discusses her early start in athletics, the importance of a multi-faceted athletic background for young athletes and her recommendations for early technical training. She also discusses her own technique, the evolution of her training throughout her career, her Olympic goals as well as the challenges of training as a post-collegiate athlete in the United States.

Dr. Gerry Ramogida

Chiropractor, Canadian Olympic Team Medical Staff Member (Athletics)

Interview Date: June 28, 2008

Duration: 60:17 mins

File Size: 54MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Dr. Gerry Ramogida is a certified chiropractor, acupuncturist and Active Release practitioner who has worked with numerous international athletics stars such as Bruny Surin, Donovan Bailey and Mark Boswell. He is also the team chiropractor for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He currently works with Canadian Record holders Tyler Christopher and Adam Kunkel and was named to the 2008 Canadian Olympic team for athletics as team medical staff.

In part one of this two-part interview Dr. Ramogida discusses a number of issues surrounding therapy and its implementation into a training program including what to look for in a potential therapist working with your athletes, establishing a therapist-coach-athlete relationship, how to assess an athlete, red flags commonly found when assessing an athlete, common injury sites, what coaches interested in doing their own therapy should do, and a review of gait analysis. For coaches interested in taking their coaching to the next level this interview is for you. 

Frans Bosch

Biomechanist / Coach

Interview Date: April 27, 2008

Duration: 44:26 mins

File Size: 41MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Frans Bosch is a professor of biomechanics and motor learning at Fontys University for Applied Science in The Netherlands. He is also the co-author of "Running: Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology Applied in Practice" with Ronald Klomp. “Running” is widely regarded as one of the top sprinting resources for coaches worldwide. An anatomical illustrator, Bosch has a unique approach sprinting biomechanics and training. He was the Netherlands national team jumps coach from 2003-2006 and also served on that country's Olympic staff in 2000 and 2004.

In this interview he discusses the writing of his book (including the new edition), monitoring systems, periodization, the importance of variation in sprint training methodology and the training of various abilities necessary for sprinting success. As well, he gives a biomechanical overview of all elements of sprint performance including block set-up, acceleration and full flight mechanics. For sprint coaches everywhere this interview offers some fresh ideas on biomechanics and how to coach the sprinting events.

Klaus Bartonietz
Coach/Biomechanist
Interview Date: April 26, 2008
Duration: 42:25 mins
File Size: 40MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download: MP3 / WMA



As the pre-eminent biomechanist in athletics over the past 20 years, few coaches have the resume that Dr. Klaus Bartonietz holds. He has published over 100 practically orientated scientific studies on biomechanics in sporting events (of which nearly 20 are available on our site) and worked with biomechanical research teams at nearly every level of development in athletics, including the IAAF World Championships Biomechanical Research Team. Specializing in the throws, Dr. Bartonietz is also an accomplished coach, working with athletes from the developmental through to the Olympic levels. Formerly, he was a research assistant at the GDR Research Institute for Sports in Leipzig (FKS) as well as a biomechanist and training advisor at the Olympic Training Centre in Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland, Germany. He is also a member of the editorial board of the renowned German athletics journal “Leichtathletik Training”.

In this interview Dr. Bartonietz discusses his view on the current techniques of the world’s best shot putters, the glide vs. spin techniques, discus release mechanics, current hammer throw techniques at the world level, maximal strength training, youth development considerations in the throws, speed in the throwing events, using light and heavy implement training, special strength training and his views towards Beijing. For throws coaches this is an interview you will not want to miss.

John Cook

Coach

Interview Date: May 31, 2008

Duration: 63:46 mins

File Size: 55MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

John Cook is the former head coach of George Mason University, where in 1996 he led his team to the NCAA indoor track and field title. A middle and long-distance specialist, coach Cook has seen many of his runners become All-Americans, NCAA champions and also Olympians. Most notably Abdi Bile from Somalia who in 1987 won the world championships at 1500 metres. Presently, coach Cook is having a big impact on the post-collegian scene in the United States working with a number of leading women. This includes Erin Donohue, the top American at 1500 metres in 2007, Shannon Rowbery who this year improved her 1500 metres personal best to 4:01 from 4:12 and most notably Shalane Flanagan the American record-holder for 5000 metres and 10,000 metres.

Recognized for his attention to detail and innovative approaches to coaching, in this fascinating interview coach Cook explains his system of supplemental conditioning work for middle and long-distance runners. Importantly, coach Cook is not just adding to his runners’ workload with such training methods and techniques as core stability and hurdle drills but constantly considering how to blend and combine these various modes of training with aerobic and anaerobic workouts to produce not just track athletes but complete athletes.

Brad Walker
Olympic Athlete
Interview Date: April 10, 2008
Duration: 26:10 mins
File Size: 27MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download: MP3 / WMA

American Pole Vault Champion Brad Walker is one of only 15 men to ever achieve the illustrious 6.00m mark in the pole vault. He is a two-time world champion (2007 Osaka and 2006 Moscow), four-time American Champion (3 indoors, 1 outdoors) and two-time World Championships silver medalist (1 indoors, 1 outdoors). In this interview he discusses his early development in the sport leading into the NCAA, his injury challenges and the strategies he has used to overcome them, pole vault mechanics, training changes over the course of his career, the importance of speed / power in the pole vault, his come from behind win in Moscow in 2006 and the ability to compete and what it means to the pole vault. For pole vault fans this is an interview not to be missed. 

Loren Seagrave

Founder, Velocity Sports Performance

Olympic Coach

Interview Date: April 26, 2008

Duration:55:30 mins

File Size: 51MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

Download: MP3 / WMA

Loren Seagrave is one of the worlds most sought after sprint coaches and lecturers. In 1999 he co-founded Velocity Sports Performance, a training school for speed power development that has grown into an international success. A five-time, NCAA Track & Field Champion coach, Seagrave's client list includes over 50 Olympic medal winners, first round NFL draft picks, and professionals from virtually every sport. Loren has coached such sprint talents as Donovan Bailey and Andre Cason, as well as three of the top ten US women 100-meter sprinters of all time: Dawn Sowell, Sheila Echols, and Gwen Torrence. He is regarded as one of the most renowned speed and sports performance coaches in the world and one of the leading experts of applied sports science to today's high performance athlete. In this interview coach Seagrave discusses his development as a coach, speed improvement strategies (including acceleration and maximal speed development), sprinting mechanics and strength and power schemes for sprinters. This exceptional interview, recorded at the 2008 European Pole Vault Conference, is for not only athletics coaches but also for trainers of any power / speed based sport.

Amy Acuff
Olympic Athlete
Interview Date: April 10, 2008
Duration: 27:46 mins
File Size: 26MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download: MP3 / WMA

Amy Acuff is the pre-eminent female high jumper in the US today, being ranked no less than third in the US rankings over the past decade (3 times #1) and first outdoors in 2007. She has been named to the past three US Olympic teams with a 4th place finish at the Athens Games. The Texas native is also a 6 time US national champion with a personal best of 2.01m. In this interview, conducted during a training session at her Tri-Valley Athletics home base, Amy discusses her history in the sport and development as an athlete, the evolution of her technique and training in the high jump, post collegiate training in the US, and what it is like to be a world class athlete. A great look inside an athlete who has dedicated her life to the sport of athletics.

Dane Miller
Athlete
Interview Date: April 4, 2008
Duration: 55:02 mins
File Size: 50MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes 

Download: MP3 / WMA

Dane Miller is an American shot putter training with Dr. Anatoly Bondarchuk in Kamloops, BC, Canada. He is also the author of “Reflections of a Master – An Interview with Dr. Anatoly Bondarchuk” which was recently posted on our site. Dane has interviewed Dr. Bondarchuk extensively and trained under his program for the past year. In this interview Dane gives us, through his own observations and conversations with his coach, a rare glimpse of what it is like to train in Bondarchuk’s program. Topics include periodization and transfer of strength training, implement weights used in practice and mechanics of the shot, discus and hammer events. For those interested in Dr. Bondarchuk’s work this is one you will not want to miss.

Peter Thompson
IAAF - Senior Education Manager
Interview Date: March 19, 2008
Duration: 71:11 minutes
File Size: 65MB
Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes
 
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Peter Thompson has been involved in athletics in numerous capacities for half-a-century. He has coached in the United Kingdom and the United States, he was former National Coach for Scotland and Executive Director of the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association. In the early 1970’s he also worked for Nike in their international marketing department. Currently Thompson is the Senior Education Manager for the IAAF, responsible for developing their advanced coach certification system. In this role Thompson has lectured all over the world. His particular area of expertise is middle and long distance running and he is the author of numerous scientific and educational articles on a range of topics related to the endurance events and the coach-athlete relationship.

In this in-depth interview, Thompson talks about the science and application of what he has termed, “New Interval Training”. He discusses a number of innovative approaches to coaching middle and long distance runners that focus on the athletes driving their training not their coaches. He also discusses African and Western approaches to developing endurance athletes and explains how we can make running more fun and feel more natural for today’s athletes. Further, this interview provides a truly global perspective on coach education from someone at the centre of the organization and administration of athletics.

Nick Dakin

British National Team Coach

Interview Date: February 22, 2008

Duration: 51:52 mins

File Size: 48MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

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British National Team coach Nick Dakin is also the Director of Coaching for Loughborough Students Athletics Club at Loughborough University, a world prominent centre for coaching, sport and exercise science. A former hurdler himself who represented Wales internationally, Nick’s coaching accomplishments include Kemel Thompson (48.05 - 2006 Commonwealth Bronze Medalist and World Championships finalist), Chris Rawlinson (48.14 - 2002 Commonwealth Champion, 2002 World Cup Bronze Medalist and 3 time European Cup Gold Medalist), Rhys Williams (49.09 - 2006 Commonwealth finalist and 2006 European Championships Bronze Medalist) and 400m specialists David Gillick (45.52 indoors, 45.23 outdoors - 2007 European Indoor 400m Champion) and Martyn Rooney (45.35 - 2006 World Junior Championships Bronze Medalist and British junior national record holder).

In this interview Dakin eloquently discusses training for the 400m hurdles, including technical training, special endurance and maximal speed training, and strength and power development for long hurdlers. He also discusses the British athletics system and the expectations placed upon British athletes going into 2012. Hurdle coaches and athletics fans alike will not want to miss this outstanding interview with one of the top long sprint coaches in the world.

Timothy Noakes
Professor of Sport Science, 
University of Cape Town

Interview Date: January 10, 2008

Duration: 46:09 mins

File Size: 42MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

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Professor Timothy Noakes is a world-renowned exercise and sports scientist at the University of Cape Town. Professor Noakes is also the co-founder of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa where his research unit’s physiological research has thrived since 1996, producing over 370 scientific articles. The goal of Professor Noakes’s group is to advance our understanding of the neural integration of the physiological response to exercise. Professor Noakes is also the author of the highly regarded, Lore of Running, which is now in its fourth edition. He has also run numerous marathons and ultra-marathons and his ideas have influenced countless runners, coaches and sport scientists around the world interested in better understanding maximal exercise performance.

In this interview, Professor Noakes discusses his research related to the onset of fatigue, that challenges many of the classic theories that attempt to explain the limitations of endurance performance. Professor’s Noakes’s “Central Governor” hypothesis, however, remains controversial within the exercise physiology community. He is an iconoclast in the field of endurance performance, but the logic of many of his ideas cannot be denied and his “thinking outside the box” approach to coaching endurance runners provides some innovative perspectives to how distance runners should train to maximize their potential. This is a must-listen to interview for any coach who has wondered about the validity and importance of VO2 Max in predicting and understanding endurance performance.

Dr. Trent Stellingwerf

High Performance Nutrition Consultant

Interview Date: November 24, 2007

Duration:67:41 mins / 52:11 mins

File Size: 62MB / 48MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

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Download Part II: MP3 / WMA




Dr. Trent Stellingwerf is a Senior Research Scientist in Performance Nutrition at the Nestle Research Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland. He holds a PhD in human biology and nutritional sciences from the University of Guelph and a post-doctorate fellowship from Maastricht University in Maastricht, The Netherlands. He currently has 15 research papers published in the area of high performance nutrition and has written numerous articles for various running magazines. As well he acts as a consultant for numerous high performance athletes globally, including his wife, Hilary Stellingwerf, a Canadian national team endurance athlete.

In this comprehensive two-part interview Dr. Stellingwerf discusses basic nutritional strategies for athletes at all levels as well as supplementation, ergogenic aids and recovery issues relating to sports performance. Part 1 focuses primarily on basic nutritional concepts for all athletes and part 2 on nutrition for the high performance athlete. For athletes and coaches with nutritional concerns or those simply looking for basic nutritional information, this interview is a must. 

Jack Daniels

Head Coach: Distance Running, 
Centre for High Altitude Training (Northern Arizona University)

Interview Date: November 30, 2007

Duration: 77:05 mins

File Size: 70 MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 mins

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Jack Daniels has been coaching distance runners for nearly half-a-century. Unique for a coach, Daniels has a PhD in exercise physiology, and it is this combination of research-informed training plans that have seen elite distance runners around the world flock to him for advice. Daniels has held coaching positions at Oklahoma City University, the University of Texas and the State University of New York at Cortland. He has also worked for Nike, testing and advising dozens of Olympians and US national champions going as far back as the 1960’s. Most recently, Daniels is the head distance running coach at the Centre for High Altitude Training at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He is also the author of the highly-regarded Daniels’ Running Formula, a book that prompted Runner’s World magazine to name Daniels “The world’s greatest coach.”

In this interview Daniels shares his decades of experience coaching, testing and studying elite distance runners. He reflects on what we know and do not know about such pressing concerns for endurance coaches as altitude training, tapering and periodization. He also speculates on the future of distance running and suggests what coaches should consider foremost when they design young athletes’ training plans. Daniels’s perspectives are both fresh and timeless. He is without question a voice of reason, passion and wisdom with something important to offer every coach out there, even if it is just a call to think carefully about how you presently coach your athletes.

Dr. Ekkart Arbeit

Olympic Coach

Interview Date: November 4, 2007

Duration: 46:05 mins

File Size: 42MB

Estimated Download Time: 5 minutes

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Dr. Ekkart Arbeit was, for more than 25 years, involved in the competitive sport system of the former East Germany. Initially working in the area of competitive sports research in Leipzig, he later became the national throws coach and then the GDR athletics federation head coach. He has since coached in Greece, Israel and Italy and today is working closely with the South African athletics federation.  

In this rare interview Dr. Arbeit discusses his history and background in the German system and how he became involved in competitive sports research. He also discusses the GDR youth development system, and the various elements that led to the development of the high performance athletics model that was so successful through the 70’s and 80’s. As well he discusses throwing-specific issues such as the role of maximal strength in the training of throwers, specific strength and speed in the throws.