Usain Bolt with coach Glen Mills in Kingston (© Getty Images)
MonteCarloTo mark two weeks to go to the start of the 2012 Samsung Diamond League series, the IAAF hosted an exclusive media conference call with Glen Mills (JAM), the man who coaches both double Olympic champion and World record holder Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, the World 100m champion. Mills discussed his star athletes, their preparation for the Samsung Diamond League and the Olympic Games, and provided some insight into his coaching philosophy as well.
Below are a few highlights.
Do you have any general predictions or expected highlights for both Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake?
Well, the Olympics take centre stage this year. I’m certain everyone will be looking to see what is happening in London. And the 100 metres for men and for women should take centre stage for athletics.
The Diamond league season, which is the precursor leading up to the Olympics, will attract a lot attention to what is happening in the sprints. And to see what the expectations are going to be in London.
The first meet in Doha has great significance as many of the top 100 metre participants will be taking part. So the Diamond League season takes on greater importance. Athletes will be using it to prepare for the Olympic Games.
We won’t see Bolt or Blake in Doha, but most of their top rivals will be there. Who do you see as the primary threats?
All of them are exceptionally good and fast sprinters. They certainly will provide tremendous competition for (Bolt and Blake), the Olympic champion and the World champion. They will certainly face formidable competition from all these gentlemen.
Can you confirm if Bolt was hurt in a charity soccer match the spring?
That’s not correct. Usain has not played in any soccer charity game this year. Usain is in good condition, he’s trained well, he had his first run a week ago where he anchored his relay team to a world-leading 37.81. He’s ready to run next week at the Jamaica Invitational.
He’s in good shape so I’m expecting him to run a good race.
Are Bolt and Blake considered to be on an even footing now?
Yohan is at the beginning of his career. And Usain is probably somewhere in the middle of his. So they’re not at the same point in their careers. But they’re two exceptional young athletes who are capable of superb performances on any given day.
Why are they taking different early season approaches, Bolt traveling to Europe but Blake staying in the Caribbean and North America?
Usain has experience competing in Europe. He’s been doing it for awhile and is used to competing in different climates, etcetera. Yohan had some problems going into the trials last year, so we thought this being an Olympic year we’d keeping him from traveling too much before the trials.
Do they have the same training programme?
They basically train at the same time every day but they don’t necessarily do the same programme. They are two different kinds of runners. We tend to be more specific with our programmes. But sometimes they do similar workouts.
Are you happy with Bolt’s strength development?
We have developed over the years his strength level and are happy with the level it is at the moment. We continue to work on his biomechanics so that we can create perfection in the execution of his sprinting.
Is Bolt 100% healthy?
Yes.
How fast can Blake run this summer? Will he double in London?
I would love to see him go much faster than he did last year. His PR is 9.82. He’s training with the double in mind. We’ll see what happens after the trials and then we’ll make a decision.
Is the 100m more of the focus for Blake, or is the 200m, after his 19.26 last year, also important?
I think the 200 metres will become a dominant part of his sprinting. We are taking some time for him to develop himself in the event. I think he’s now experienced and developed to the point where he’s now ready to compete at the Olympic level. So he’s training and preparing for both events.
Bolt has run 9.6, then 9.5. Now 9.4 is being talked about reasonably. Is it possible?
Well, I don’t think it’s impossible. He’ll have to have the right conditions. I’m not sure if London is going to have the conditions for a world record.
Will Bolt be disappointed if he doesn’t break the World record in London?
No. World records are what we call bonuses. The objective is to win titles. He wants to become a legend so the objective is to win titles.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Below are a few highlights.
Do you have any general predictions or expected highlights for both Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake?
Well, the Olympics take centre stage this year. I’m certain everyone will be looking to see what is happening in London. And the 100 metres for men and for women should take centre stage for athletics.
The Diamond league season, which is the precursor leading up to the Olympics, will attract a lot attention to what is happening in the sprints. And to see what the expectations are going to be in London.
The first meet in Doha has great significance as many of the top 100 metre participants will be taking part. So the Diamond League season takes on greater importance. Athletes will be using it to prepare for the Olympic Games.
We won’t see Bolt or Blake in Doha, but most of their top rivals will be there. Who do you see as the primary threats?
All of them are exceptionally good and fast sprinters. They certainly will provide tremendous competition for (Bolt and Blake), the Olympic champion and the World champion. They will certainly face formidable competition from all these gentlemen.
Can you confirm if Bolt was hurt in a charity soccer match the spring?
That’s not correct. Usain has not played in any soccer charity game this year. Usain is in good condition, he’s trained well, he had his first run a week ago where he anchored his relay team to a world-leading 37.81. He’s ready to run next week at the Jamaica Invitational.
He’s in good shape so I’m expecting him to run a good race.
Are Bolt and Blake considered to be on an even footing now?
Yohan is at the beginning of his career. And Usain is probably somewhere in the middle of his. So they’re not at the same point in their careers. But they’re two exceptional young athletes who are capable of superb performances on any given day.
Why are they taking different early season approaches, Bolt traveling to Europe but Blake staying in the Caribbean and North America?
Usain has experience competing in Europe. He’s been doing it for awhile and is used to competing in different climates, etcetera. Yohan had some problems going into the trials last year, so we thought this being an Olympic year we’d keeping him from traveling too much before the trials.
Do they have the same training programme?
They basically train at the same time every day but they don’t necessarily do the same programme. They are two different kinds of runners. We tend to be more specific with our programmes. But sometimes they do similar workouts.
Are you happy with Bolt’s strength development?
We have developed over the years his strength level and are happy with the level it is at the moment. We continue to work on his biomechanics so that we can create perfection in the execution of his sprinting.
Is Bolt 100% healthy?
Yes.
How fast can Blake run this summer? Will he double in London?
I would love to see him go much faster than he did last year. His PR is 9.82. He’s training with the double in mind. We’ll see what happens after the trials and then we’ll make a decision.
Is the 100m more of the focus for Blake, or is the 200m, after his 19.26 last year, also important?
I think the 200 metres will become a dominant part of his sprinting. We are taking some time for him to develop himself in the event. I think he’s now experienced and developed to the point where he’s now ready to compete at the Olympic level. So he’s training and preparing for both events.
Bolt has run 9.6, then 9.5. Now 9.4 is being talked about reasonably. Is it possible?
Well, I don’t think it’s impossible. He’ll have to have the right conditions. I’m not sure if London is going to have the conditions for a world record.
Will Bolt be disappointed if he doesn’t break the World record in London?
No. World records are what we call bonuses. The objective is to win titles. He wants to become a legend so the objective is to win titles.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
