Surin in the blocks with Australian sprinters (© IAAF)
Patience, perseverance and enjoyment were the watchwords at a coaching clinic held by former world indoor 60m champion Bruny Surin just hours before the opening ceremony of the third IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada.
Bruny, the popular Canadian sprint legend, was delighted to offer his words of wisdom to members of the Australian World Youth squad in the countdown to the biennial event for the planet’s finest under-18 athletes.
The former world 100m silver medallist spoke in the classroom about how he started in track and field, the highs and lows of being an elite athlete and also delivered a hard hitting anti-drug message to the enthused squad of sprinters.
He later took them down to the warm-up track near the Université de Sherbrooke Stadium to go through some start drills and signed autographed pictures for the youngsters.
Bruny, who hails from nearby Montreal, said of the clinic: “I told them to work hard and believe in themselves.
“Sometimes life doesn’t go as well as expected but there are no shortcuts in life you have to work hard for success.”
Bruny retired after the 2001 World Championships held in his native Canada, but did not achieve his best times in track and field until his early thirties and is a prime example of an athlete who showed great patience in his career before achieving his very best in the sport.
He explained the opportunity to compete in a World Youth Championships was not around when he was young but he understood the importance of such an event to the 1300 athletes featuring in the championships over the next five days.
“It’s like a mini-Olympics and is a great motivation,” added Bruny, who will be in attendance throughout the championships. “Many of the athletes will have high expectations but my message would be to all competitors, do your best and enjoy the sport.”
Australian team coach John Sessarago praised the clinic saying: “The whole experience has been invaluable and made an immense difference to the youngsters. It has been a magical moment for many of these kids to be here with Bruny.
“It was interesting for the young athletes to hear him talk about his career and say they are no shortcuts to success.”
“They also found it very useful to hear about when Bruny started a weights programme, all the athletes are very influenced about listening to a high level athlete.”
It was theme echoed by the athletes, who were given the opportunity to feature in the clinic and take on board the advice of the four-time Olympian.
Jamiee-Lee Hoebergen, 15, one of the youngest members of the Australian squad, said: “He (Bruny) has some good things to say and good things to learn from. He said when things go wrong and you have to learn from your mistakes but move on to the next challenge. It was very inspiring.”
Jamiee-Lee competes in the 400m and has a best time of 53.91.
Mitchel Webber, a sprint hurdler with a best time of 13.7, was also enthused by the clinic, adding: “It is good to have older athletes here to pass on their experience. We have seen Bruny on TV and he competed in four Olympics. He said ‘be patient, if success doesn’t come today it will come tomorrow.’”
