Prince
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So with the Arnold Classic just a matter of days away, I feel the need to talk about Derek Lunsford and the strategy that he is employing with a new coach, heading into one of the most important contests of his career. There’s a lot to unpack just in that first sentence so let’s go step by step.
Working with a new coach for an athlete on this level is really uncharted waters. You never want to work with someone other than the person that got you to your best. In this case, Hany was able to bring Derek to his absolute best; he had worked with other coaches in the past but none of them could do what this particular coach did. And it’s not a victory that belongs to the coach and it’s not a victory that belongs to the athlete. It’s a victory that belongs to the partnership.
The fact that two men were able to get on the same wavelength and communicate respectfully and effectively is very impressive. It’s being in sync and it’s not double guessing or tweaking things on one end without telling the person on the other. We are talking about an absolute laser-sharp connection between two individuals. But what happens when that individual and the athlete can no longer work together? Especially when it’s something outside of the athletes control. In this case the athlete’s coach retired from coaching top athletes. There was nothing the competitor could do but look for another coach. When you don’t even have a choice in the matter that is even more problematic. So finding a new coach at this stage of the game after working with the guy that led him to the biggest title in the sport, is a daunting task. And that’s to say the least.