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David Rudisha’s coach says Olympic champion has ‘no need to panic’ David Rudisha’s coach says Olympic champion has ‘no need to panic’
(30 days later)
A half-mile jog from a maroon gate that proudly announces “Welcome to Iten – home of champions” there are two modest houses in the grounds of St Patrick’s school. One belongs to David Rudisha, the greatest 800m runner in history. The other to his coach, Brother Colm O’Connell, the Irish missionary of whom Rudisha admits “I don’t know where I would be without him”.A half-mile jog from a maroon gate that proudly announces “Welcome to Iten – home of champions” there are two modest houses in the grounds of St Patrick’s school. One belongs to David Rudisha, the greatest 800m runner in history. The other to his coach, Brother Colm O’Connell, the Irish missionary of whom Rudisha admits “I don’t know where I would be without him”.
Yet when Rudisha steps on to the track for the Commonwealth Games at Hampden Park next week, O’Connell – who has spent four decades turning raw talent into champions – will be 4,400 miles away in Kenya. Just like he was when Rudisha galloped so majestically away from his rivals to win gold at London 2012.Yet when Rudisha steps on to the track for the Commonwealth Games at Hampden Park next week, O’Connell – who has spent four decades turning raw talent into champions – will be 4,400 miles away in Kenya. Just like he was when Rudisha galloped so majestically away from his rivals to win gold at London 2012.
“I’ve never been to a major championships,” O’Connell says, to incredulous looks. “Why go when the sun is shining here and when you get replays on TV?”“I’ve never been to a major championships,” O’Connell says, to incredulous looks. “Why go when the sun is shining here and when you get replays on TV?”
He is joking but there is a serious point behind the smiles. “What could I have done in London that David didn’t do himself?” he asks. “I talked to him the day before the final and he knew what he was going to do. I also had a second athlete in the race, the guy who won the bronze, Timothy Kitum. And David called him to his room and said: ‘Timothy, I am going to give some simple advice to a fellow Kenyan: do not follow me if you want to win a medal’.”He is joking but there is a serious point behind the smiles. “What could I have done in London that David didn’t do himself?” he asks. “I talked to him the day before the final and he knew what he was going to do. I also had a second athlete in the race, the guy who won the bronze, Timothy Kitum. And David called him to his room and said: ‘Timothy, I am going to give some simple advice to a fellow Kenyan: do not follow me if you want to win a medal’.”
Instead much of the hard work was done 8,000 feet up in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, where the vistas are not the only thing that takes the breath away. “In the month before the Olympics, he only did two or three track sessions,” O’Connell says. “Instead he was on the road, doing about 35 miles a week. I was looking for poise, confidence, striding it out rather than against the watch.Instead much of the hard work was done 8,000 feet up in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, where the vistas are not the only thing that takes the breath away. “In the month before the Olympics, he only did two or three track sessions,” O’Connell says. “Instead he was on the road, doing about 35 miles a week. I was looking for poise, confidence, striding it out rather than against the watch.
So how did he do on the track? “When I saw him run five or six 200 metre sprints, all in 22 seconds, I didn’t need to see any more.”So how did he do on the track? “When I saw him run five or six 200 metre sprints, all in 22 seconds, I didn’t need to see any more.”
And that track – it should be pointed out – is almost worn through, with a huge rut in the first lane.And that track – it should be pointed out – is almost worn through, with a huge rut in the first lane.
Rudisha’s victory in London was yet another triumph for O’Connell’s coaching methods and eye for talent. When he arrived at St Patrick’s in 1976 to teach geography, he intended to stay three months, was not a runner, and had no formal sports training. Yet Kenya and athletics reeled him in.Rudisha’s victory in London was yet another triumph for O’Connell’s coaching methods and eye for talent. When he arrived at St Patrick’s in 1976 to teach geography, he intended to stay three months, was not a runner, and had no formal sports training. Yet Kenya and athletics reeled him in.
Five of his athletes have since won golds at Olympics and world championships – including Peter Rono, the 1500m champion in Seoul, and Wilson Kipketer, a three-times 800m world champion – but he has no idea how many medals there are in total. “I’m like your typical Kenyan,” he says. “Kenyans don’t count children or cows.”Five of his athletes have since won golds at Olympics and world championships – including Peter Rono, the 1500m champion in Seoul, and Wilson Kipketer, a three-times 800m world champion – but he has no idea how many medals there are in total. “I’m like your typical Kenyan,” he says. “Kenyans don’t count children or cows.”
At St Patrick’s academic achievement is prized most of all but athletics is not far behind. The school’s record board, which lists the best times set by athletes while still students, is not too shabby. The fastest time for the 800m, for instance, is 1min 43.64sec set by the 1998 Commonwealth Games champion Japheth Kimutai as an 18-year-old.At St Patrick’s academic achievement is prized most of all but athletics is not far behind. The school’s record board, which lists the best times set by athletes while still students, is not too shabby. The fastest time for the 800m, for instance, is 1min 43.64sec set by the 1998 Commonwealth Games champion Japheth Kimutai as an 18-year-old.
Rudisha did not go to St Patrick’s but he resolved to train with O’Connell after reading about him in a newspaper and then seeing him during a primary school athletics competition, aged 14. Says Rudisha, who finished fifth in the 200m that day: “I remember in 2004, he was going for a walk and we were going for a run. They said ‘that’s the mizungo [white guy] training the athletes here’. I was too shy to meet him.” However, a year later, Rudisha boldly asked to join O’Connell’s youth athletics programme in Iten and was quickly persuaded – “with a little nudge,” says O’Connell – to move up to 800m.Rudisha did not go to St Patrick’s but he resolved to train with O’Connell after reading about him in a newspaper and then seeing him during a primary school athletics competition, aged 14. Says Rudisha, who finished fifth in the 200m that day: “I remember in 2004, he was going for a walk and we were going for a run. They said ‘that’s the mizungo [white guy] training the athletes here’. I was too shy to meet him.” However, a year later, Rudisha boldly asked to join O’Connell’s youth athletics programme in Iten and was quickly persuaded – “with a little nudge,” says O’Connell – to move up to 800m.
“Because David came off a sprint background, he was always a little bit scared of having to do long distance running,” O’Connell says. “I actually didn’t have to do much sprint work with him. First, he was a sprinter himself – he can run 45.5sec for 400m. Second, his father was a sprinter. So that was more or less taken care of.” “Because David came off a sprint background, he was always a little bit scared of having to do long distance running,” O’Connell says. “I actually didn’t have to do much sprint work with him. First, he was a sprinter himself – he can run 45.5sec for 400m. Second, his father was a sprinter. So that was more or less taken care of.”
There was not a eureka moment where O’Connell realised how exceptional Rudisha could be. It took time, a great many successes, and the odd failure too. During London 2012, he was unbeatable but a serious knee injury forced him to miss most of 2013 and since then he has been vulnerable.There was not a eureka moment where O’Connell realised how exceptional Rudisha could be. It took time, a great many successes, and the odd failure too. During London 2012, he was unbeatable but a serious knee injury forced him to miss most of 2013 and since then he has been vulnerable.
On Friday night in Monaco, Rudisha finished fifth behind Nijel Amos, the 20-year-old from Botswana who he will meet again in Glasgow, but O’Connell says that he is not overly concerned.On Friday night in Monaco, Rudisha finished fifth behind Nijel Amos, the 20-year-old from Botswana who he will meet again in Glasgow, but O’Connell says that he is not overly concerned.
“Each of his four races this year have been an improvement time wise,” he says. “And running under 1min 43sec in Monaco is a positive sign that he’s gradually getting back into shape. Those of us working closely with him, including David himself, knew he would not be anywhere near his 2012 shape. Having been out for so long – over one year – he lacks that very solid foundation he had two seasons ago.”“Each of his four races this year have been an improvement time wise,” he says. “And running under 1min 43sec in Monaco is a positive sign that he’s gradually getting back into shape. Those of us working closely with him, including David himself, knew he would not be anywhere near his 2012 shape. Having been out for so long – over one year – he lacks that very solid foundation he had two seasons ago.”
Is he fearful that he will not be cheering on another victory from afar? “There’s nothing to panic about,” he says. “David respects all his competitors but he would dearly love to have a Commonwealth title.” And what Rudisha craves, he usually gets.Is he fearful that he will not be cheering on another victory from afar? “There’s nothing to panic about,” he says. “David respects all his competitors but he would dearly love to have a Commonwealth title.” And what Rudisha craves, he usually gets.