It’s not just personal coaches who are personna non grata for many countries- it is athletes as well. They all cut in to the number of bureaucrats who can attend and the magnitude of their freeloading.
How about for the Forum newsletter?
According to PJ- and this is absolutely true, of course- this medal means so much (more) to Olu compared to this particular federation -if they care at all, that is… And perhaps compared to others who haven’t been under similar circumstances…
And it just shows his dedication to the sport and his determination to move to better things with his current group!
And this is very encouraging -for him!
PJ the very very very best wishes to yourself and your student.excellent work on both halves plus your descriptions are fantastic
we are very very proud of you
reagrds
X-Man
Speaking of which I still don’t get the times of the two English runners -who were healthy- in the heats… Why did they have to push it so hard, when clearly there was no need for such a thing? 
Of course, we didn’t have the chance to see what M.L.F. would do, but that’s another story, I suppose…
Maybe the constant questions by the BBC described above explains all. These vultures get at the athletes with cameras at trackside and try to goad them into this stupidity. The athletes, in turn, play to a fawning announcer during the heats, then wind up with recrimminations after - seduction and betrayal.
Why athletes can’t learn to steer clear of the press till after and only talk when they have something to talk about is beyond me.
just read sprint coach’s athlethe made the finals,
Congrats.
Thumbs UP!
Our media is hopeless. They are nterviewing athletes immediatley after they finish. Most often they are still sucking air like a vacum cleaner and in the case of the swimmers dripping water. One of the first questions is about any injuries that may have been a factor :rolleyes:
The worst one so far was with Beatrice Faumuina following her 4th in the discuss last night (she had won gold at last 2 CWG). It was about 60 seconds after her last throw, was stupid and sycophantic. It was obvious Beatrice was pissed off with 1. how she had performed and 2. the interviewer…the constant we love you B as she walked away was pathetic.
Yeah I watched the interview with Queen Bea and it seemed to me that the interviewer was trying desperately to get a reaction out of her and some sort of excuse. All credit to Beatrice for not falling for it. She was extremely graceful in defeat.
At least the interviewer tried to be supportive in defeat as she walked off instead of the usual: “What happened.” then a segue into: “Well, another disappointing effort for the fans.” while she’s still within earshot.
Yes, a season best under pressure when it counts is great peaking and great coaching.
We’re all wanting to hear how things are going but there’s so much to do, we’ll prob have to wait till after the final. Here’s hoping for a PB in the final.
Because the camera is sweet, I guess… :o
M. Devonish does it best (on purpose?), he “finishes” his race well past the cameras’ zone… 
The questions to M.L.F. after the semi were appalling!!
You want drama, sir? Go race your self! That’d be fun…
EDIT: anyway, this is an all-positive thread, let’s keep it this way! 
now some advice on how to get past them.
Wait till they get someone on camera, then whip past while they’re occupied and can’t go after you. you don’t want to brush past and piss them off. You might also run through the line- and straight out before they’re ready for you. Hard to pin a moving target.
Just spoke (for the first time ever) to the great PJ and he informs that he has made arrangements to meet Sprint_Coach before tonight’s 400m final. So Team CF>Forum are on the case 
And just spoke (also for the first time) to the great Sprint_Coach who seems to be handling the pressure very well. Bad lane draw for the final but could’ve been worse. SC discussed their race tactics and they are totally on top of things. Let’s hope it works out for them, but whatever happens to bring a guy from injuries to excellence is a mighty coaching effort. To think SC’s guy went from fifth in a domestic grand prix 400m two weeks before his national trials all the way to the Commonwealth top-8, well they should both be celebrating.
Final Men’s 400m
Lane Bib Country - Name Birth Date Personal Best Season Best
1 1903 RSA - GORRIES Paul 28/02/1981 45.30 45.41
2 1203 BOT - MOLEFE California 12/03/1980 45.34 45.34
3 1146 BAH - BROWN Christopher 15/08/1978 44.48 45.24
4 1072 AUS - STEFFENSEN John 30/08/1982 45.05 45.05
5 1356 ENG - ROONEY Martyn 03/04/1987 45.35 45.35
6 1564 JAM - SPENCE Lansford 15/12/1982 44.77 44.77
7 1473 GRN - FRANCIQUE Alleyne 07/06/1976 44.47 45.36
8 1556 JAM - GONZALES Jermaine 26/11/1984 45.38 45.38
John Steffenson refused to do TV interview after his 400. He kept walking
CONGRATULATIONS Sprint_Coach to you and your young champion. I thought he moved superbly, and halfway down the home straight he looked like he might take bronze. It was a mighty effort by you both to come so far in such a short space of time. His lack of specific endurance finally showed, but another year of the same training uninterrupted by injuries will see him able to run out the full distance in these tournament finals. Patience and Persistence.
The winner, John Steffensen, has South African parents but he runs for Australia and has been coached by John Smith since just after the Athens Olympics (I think). Congratulations to both of them for a beautifully executed final following a superbly planned campaign. kk
Final Men’s 400m
Rk Bib Country - Name Birth Date Lane Reaction Time Results Record
Type
1 1072 AUS
STEFFENSEN John 30/08/1982 4 0.201 44.73 PB
2 1473 GRN
FRANCIQUE Alleyne 07/06/1976 7 0.206 45.09 SB
3 1556 JAM
GONZALES Jermaine 26/11/1984 8 0.216 45.16 PB
4 1146 BAH
BROWN Christopher 15/08/1978 3 0.264 45.19 SB
5 1356 ENG
ROONEY Martyn 03/04/1987 5 0.182 45.51
6 1203 BOT
MOLEFE California 12/03/1980 2 0.283 45.78
7 1903 RSA
GORRIES Paul 28/02/1981 1 0.161 45.79
7 1564 JAM
SPENCE Lansford 15/12/1982 6 0.322 45.79
Having read KitKat’s posts, this is a great result indeed!
Well done!!
I second that! When you’re there, you go for it and give it your all. He did that and came close to a big breakthrough. When the SE work kicks in, he won’t fall back at the end.
KK
if you have it on tape would love to read your insight into the final…
John is in some grand company now in Aust track with his sub 45 putting him number 3 all time… behind the great man himself…
Here here! Well done PJ and SprintCoach.
Re the BBC question, that’s surprising I thought it looked fairly obvious that Olu was running comfortably and within himself in the heats.