Virtual coaching! - Discus record holder teams up with master instructor online

November 23, 2020
File Photos
Coach Julian Robinson
File Photos Coach Julian Robinson
Shadae Lawrence
Shadae Lawrence
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Jamaica's leading female discus thrower has joined forces with the nation's most successful throwing coach. National record holder at 65.05 metres, Shadae Lawrence, is now taking instructions from the man who has coached Jamaica to prominence in the discus ring, Julian Robinson. The partnership has just begun but coach Robinson has already seen some improvement.

"I see her making progress and she's a hard worker so she's keen on doing well, and I think she has the ability to do well," said Robinson of the 2016 Olympian.

Lawrence is based in central Florida and, with Robinson in Kingston, their daily routine resembles the experience of students during the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Obviously, we're working remotely. Virtual learning, it can work and we are working. I think she's making progress. The plan that we have in place is that she would video herself strategically during training and send the video to me at some point during the day and I'd give her feedback," he explained.

National record

In addition, they meet online regularly.

Lawrence won the 2017 NCAA title for Kansas State University and set her national record in 2019, while at Colorado State University, and has twice represented Jamaica at the World Championships.

While she is dwarfed by reigning Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic, the 5-8, 185-pound Jamaican is somewhat similar in proportion to the Cuban pair who went 1-2 at last year's World Championships, Yaime Perez and Denia Caballero. Asked if changes are afoot, Robinson reasoned, "Finding the ideal competitive weight is not an exact science. What I want for Shadae is for her to be more explosive. Obviously, the more mass you have, the better it is for throwing the implement, but if you have the mass and you cannot move, then it's a problem. So what I'm working on with her are these things: I'm trying to get her more explosive. I'm trying to get her stronger. I'm trying to get her faster."

By comparison, Perkovic is 6 feet tall and 176 pounds, with Perez and Caballero taping 5-9/172 and 5-9/161, respectively.

Lawrence and the coach are also working to improve her throwing technique.

The early signs are encouraging. "She has told me that she feels significantly more powerful so I think we're improving," said the coach who has moulded World silver medallist Fedrick Dacres, Pan-Am and Commonwealth runner-up Traves Smikle, and 2018 World Under-20 winner Kai Chang.

The only snag is that Lawrence is unable to train full-time because she doesn't have a sponsor. "She's working. She's not in school so she's not a full-time athlete, so it's difficult," the coach remarked.

Nevertheless, he is optimistic. "As soon as she's in a position to do all that I want her to do," he said hopefully, "and can reap the benefits, then I will feel much better, but she's improving and I like that."

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