Winning partnership comes to end
28/03/2010 5:10:00 p.m.
Olympic and World Championship-winning combination Kirsten Hellier and Valerie Vili today jointly announced they have agreed to end their coaching partnership.
Hellier will no longer take responsibility for Vili’s coaching and after more than a decade of domestic and international success, says its time for Vili to enter into the next phase.
“After 11 wonderful years, I have reached the level where I feel I can no longer give Valerie what she needs in order to continue her progression as an athlete,” Hellier said.
“My confidence in Val’s abilities has not altered and I wish her nothing but happiness, love and success for the future. My desire now is to explore new business and career opportunities and spend more time with my family,” she added.
The decision has been a tough one but Hellier and Vili agree it is time for Vili to have new input into her athletic career.
“It’s sad to be losing Kirsten from my team,” Vili says. "It’s been amazing what we have achieved together but I have more to do yet. We have talked together about the future and feel this is the best pathway to take.
Vili added: “Kirsten has always been more than a coach to me. She has been an amazing mentor and friend. That part of our relationship will not change."
Both Hellier and Vili will be taking scheduled and well earned holidays, before Vili returns to her training programme and turns her focus towards New Delhi this year, and London in 2012.