17th May 2007
Olympic and World 400m Champion Jeremy Wariner will make a flying visit to Scotland on 28th May, courtesy of the Bank of Scotland.
USA star Wariner is the only man to have broken 44 seconds over 400m since Michael Johnson set his world record of 43.18s in Seville in 1999.
In a 24 hour gap between competing in Hengelo and returning to his training base in Texas, Wariner will appear at a Bank of Scotland photocall in Edinburgh, host a question and answer session and take warm up drills for Bank of Scotland Talented Athlete Squad members and their coaches.
Wariner ran the fastest time in the world this year with his 44.02 in Osaka on 5th May, and claimed he hoped to return to the same track in August to set a new world record at the World Championships.
Last November his manager and mentor Michael Johnson was guest of the Bank of Scotland and keynote speaker at the scottishathletics International Coaching Conference.
Wariner said:
“I am aware that Scotland’s young athletes are now being prepared for the challenges of the 2012 Olympics and hopefully a 2014 Commonwealth Games on home soil. The Bank of Scotland squads are key to that. I am happy to lend my support to the good work that is being done by athletes and coaches in Scotland and I’m looking forward to meeting up with them.”
Piotr Haczek, scottishathletics Sprints and Hurdles Manager said:
“Jeremy is the highest profile athlete to visit Scotland since Michael Johnson. He has already claimed that this season he will become the fastest man in the world, as he aims to break the magical 43 second barrier over 400m. He will be an inspiration to athletes and coaches in Scotland.”
Karen McCall, Group Sponsorship, Bank of Scotland said:
"Having Jeremy working with our Talented Youth Athletes is the perfect way to build on the legacy of Michael Johnson’s visit last year. Jeremy leads the new generation of sprinters and I’m sure he will provide real motivation for our athletes as they aim to make their mark on the world stage