media_artricles :: 2013

Gordon — the perfect athlete says coach

An elated Dr Ian Hypolite, described Jehue Gordon’s gold medal success in the 400 metres at the World Championships here in Moscow as a red letter day for T&T coaches.

“I am so elated, I am here with my partner in coach, Edwin Skinner, from the Memphis Pioneers club, and we are particularly happy that we could do all of this based in Trinidad and Tobago. This is a big day for local coaches and shows the value of staying at home. Jehue is the perfect athlete to work with.”

Gordon defeated a top class field to become only the second T&T athlete to win a World Championship gold medal with a 47.69 run yesterday. The other is Ato Boldon who won the 200 metres in 1997.

Hypolite described Gordon as a wonderful person with whom to work. “He listens and follows advice, he is just the perfect athlete in his whole presence and behaviour, and today he showed all the faith we have in him,” Hypolite said.

Hypolite revealed that a fair amount of discussion went into planning the race. “He stuck to the game plan. He was patient. He was attacked by Omar Cisneros, Javier Culson and Felix Sanchez, but he never panicked and was patient all the way. He executed just as we discussed.”

Hypolite noted that Gordon’s confidence has returned. “After we had some good sessions at home and in Finland, we could sense that this was a different Jehue. He was doing things differently and was very relaxed at the end of his races. This was a great sign of maturity. We told him, that after 300 metres, there would be others challenging and he should stay calm and he executed perfectly.”

Gordon is part of the Memphis Pionners Club since age 12. “In Memphis Pioneers, both Edwin Skinner and myself have a belief that we can assist the athlete and encourage and give you the best training. But we need full support and Jehue has given that.”

How They Finished

1 Jehue Gordon TT 47.69
2 Michael Tinsley USA 47.70
3 Emir Bekric SRB 48.05
4 Omar Cisneros CUB 48.12
5 Felix Sánchez DOM 48.22
6 Javier Culson PUR 48.38
7 Mamadou Kasse Hanne SEN 48.68
8 Kerron Clement USA 49.08

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