The Making of an Olympic Champion

M l l BMalcolm Brown

andand

Jack Maitland

Athlete   Environment

Coach

Alistair Brownlee (age 24)

Olympic Champion 2012

World Champion 2011 and 2009World Champion 2011 and 2009

World U23 Champion 2008

World Junior Champion 2006

European Champion 2011 and 2010

ProgressionProgression

f ( )Year Age Performance (T) Race

2005 17 34:12

2006 18 33:27

2007 19 33:042007 19 33:04

2008 20 31:30

2009 21 29:04 29:35

2010 22 30:00

2011 23 29:50 29:15

2012 24 29:072012 24 29:07 

Percentage Distribution of TrainingPercentage Distribution of Training

Alistair Brownlee

Typical training week Feb 2012

steady/aerobic tempo/hard/interval S&C/physio

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

80 min steady run

Hard Swim

Aerobic swim

Strengthswim

MixedPace

Run session30 mins hard

4 hrs easy bike

120bpmSwim swim swim Pace

swim160bpm

bike

Drills S&C 40 min75 min easy run

60 min easy run S&C

3.5 hrs easy bike

1hr 40 easy runDrills S&C 40 min 

easy runeasy run easy run S&C easy bike easy run

E S i 1 h3.5  hr bik

2 hr easy bike20 min

60 min  30 min Easy Swim 1 hr easy 

bikebike 20 min 

efforts within this

easy run easy run

Track 15 mins  60 min 2 hr easy bike hard

170bpmeasy bike

Jonny Brownlee (age 22)

Olympic Bronze Medal 2012Olympic Bronze Medal 2012

World Champion 2012

World Sprint Champion 2011 and 2010

World U23 Champion 2010p

World Junior Bronze 2008

Non Stanford (age 22)Non Stanford (age 22)

World U23 Champion 2012

Tom Bishop (age 21)Tom Bishop (age 21) 

World U23 Bronze Medals 2012 and 2011

World Junior Silver Medal 2010

David McNamee (age 23)David McNamee (age 23)

World U23 Silver Medal 2011

Training EnvironmentTraining Environment

• Built over yearsBuilt over years

• Low tech – Low cost

• Coach/Physiotherapist

• Conditioning specialist

• Additional Support Personnel –PhysiotherapistPhysiotherapistNutritionistDoctor

Training EnvironmentTraining Environment

• Group is vital

• Enjoyment is important

• Learn from older athletes

• Leeds – cold, wet, hilly, essential facilities

• No culture of entitlement

Training EnvironmentTraining Environment

G i t l h• Grass is not greener elsewhere

• Individualised progression 

f J i U 23 S ifrom Junior to U‐23 to Senior

• Establish sound biomechanics and skills

• Increase training loads between ages

18‐21 to world class threshold18 21 to world class threshold

CoachesJack MaitlandMalcolm Brown

• Experienced coaches and former athletes

• Shared fundamental principles and valuesShared fundamental principles and values

Littl• Little ego

• Empower athletes by encouraging               decision making and autonomy

CoachesJack MaitlandMalcolm Brown

• Education has priority

• Curiosity

• Cross sports experience

• Open inclusive philosophy

• Settled in Leeds

Olympic Challenges 2011 12Olympic Challenges 2011‐12

• “Noise”

• Experts

• People• People

• Sponsors

• UK Sport• UK Sport

• British Olympic Association

• Federation• Federation

Olympic Challenges 2011 12Olympic Challenges 2011‐12

• Distributed athletes and coaches• Distributed athletes and coaches

• No common training base

• No identityy

• No common purpose

Olympic SolutionsOlympic Solutions

• CONFIDENCE

• REHEARSEREHEARSE

– Course/venue/hotel/routes/rooms/staff

• ATTEND TO EVERY DETAIL

• ENJOYENJOY

• EMBRACE

• CALM

Support TeamSupport Team

ll ibl• Small as possible

• Unambiguously world class or potentially g y p yworld class

• Dispense with “passengers” and “hopefuls”Dispense with  passengers  and  hopefuls

• 24/7 commitment for 18 months

b l• No team building exercises

• Eight “rehearsals” or racesg

• One “dress” rehearsal