David Gillick is to leave his training base in Loughborough University in England and move permanently to Orlando, Florida to work with Lance Brauman, coach to American sprinter Tyson Gay, amongst others. It’s a bold and significant move designed to improve his prospects at the 2012 London Olympics, although Gillick admits it was a difficult decision.
“It’s not really a direct result of the way the summer ended,” says Gillick, who ran three sub-45 second 400 metres this summer, but was ultimately disappointed by his sixth place finish at the European Championships in Barcelona.
“I was very happy with Nick Dakin as my coach at Loughborough and the progress I made under him for the last four years, but at the same time I felt maybe I needed a change, to freshen things up, and make sure again that I leave no stone unturned in the build-up to London.
“I looked at several coaches, at all avenues, did up a checklist, and Lance Brauman really ticks all the boxes. I’ve talked with him a few times now and once he expressed his interest, and saw the potential in me, it became the best move. It’s a great training group, in an excellent training environment, and a massive opportunity, really, for me to better myself.”
Brauman’s group includes around a dozen leading American sprinters, with Gay being the headline act, although Irish Paralympic sprinter Jason Smyth also spent several months earlier this year training as part of his group in Orlando.
“It is quite a big move,” adds Gillick, “but I feel as well comes at an opportune time. Their group start back November 1st, and I’ll be moved to Orlando by then. If I’m serious about making changes for London then now is the time to do it. Next year would be too late. I feel maybe I slipped into the comfort zone again a little bit in Loughborough and I think will shake me up again, to be the best I can.
“It’s an exciting move too, in that I know with Brauman’s group sprinting is their lives. In many ways it was a case of now or never. I’m 27 now, and didn’t want to hit 32 wondering what might have been if I’d trained with the best sprinters in America.”
