Ian King

Jett’s in the loop – and that’s a problem

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In late 2015 an Australia family packed up and left for Europe to support their teenage athlete children’s motorcross dreams.  Hunter was Jett was 16 years of age, and his younger brother Jett was 12. They spend about three years in Europe racing before achieving the bigger picture goal of gaining the opportunity to compete in the US supercross and motorcross seasons.

Their competitive success to date has left no doubt that they are amongst the greatest athlete exports out of Australia.  So great, one or both could challenge for the title of GOAT – greatest of all time, in US super/moto cross racing history. Of the two Jett is currently more dominative – when he is on the track.

And that’s the challenge for Jett. The greatest challenge for Jett in achieving the GOAT status are potential injuries. In the AMA 450cc Supercross class, Jett has completed one out of three seasons. He won the season completed. In the AMA 450cc Motorcross  class, Jett has completed one out of three seasons. He won both of the seasons he completed.

That’s a total of 3 seasons out of six or 50% completion.

While many ask whether he is going to be the next GOAT, perhaps a more pertinent question may be to understand why he is in the situation where he has a combined season completion rate in the 450cc class of 50%.

I suggest that Jett’s in ‘the loop’. The injury loop as I call it. And that’s a problem.

The aim of this article is to discuss the ‘loop’.  Ideally, we would be discussing the cause of the injuries in the first place, however that would be for most too esoteric. So, at the shallow level of public discourse, I will stick with the less disputable – the injury loop.

The challenge for me is witnessing greatness being jeopardized by the preventable. The talent is indisputable. But is it going to be unfulfilled?

The Loop

The injury loop is where an athlete gets an injury, fails to rehabilitate fully before returning to competition, and suffers another injury as a result of that failure. [1]  I have spoken about this phenomenon for a number of decades now.

This is what most people do. They get a niggle, they ignore it. The niggle kind of keeps coming back. They say it can’t be so, because their left brain will tell them it can’t be so. They ignore it. Now perhaps at some point in time it gets so bad they’ll go and see someone and get ineffective treatment. It won’t work.

They’ll keep training and then they’ll blow up. They’ll have a tear. They’ll have an injury. Then they’ll get poor rehabilitation. They won’t fix the cause. They’ll address the symptom. They’ll go back to training. They’ll either blow the same thing, or they’ll blow the other side. And this is a pattern that continues to repeat itself.

So, I cannot stress enough. If your body is telling you there’s something not right, fix it. When we’re young we think we’re bulletproof. When we get a little bit older, reality sets in. You should be wiser beyond your years when it comes to the pain message from the body. Do not ignore your body. Find somebody who can help you remove that little niggle. Do not wait until it becomes an injury. Do not injure yourself before you cease training.[2] [3]

Predictable and preventable. Now, according to some, injuries can only be avoided through divine intervention. That’s a theory. There are many theories, but mine is human intervention can actually prevent because you can predict them. So, what we’ll be doing today is showing you how very briefly to look at a joint and say, ‘this is what’s going to happen.’

So, after trauma, what happens next?  We have some form of treatment or intervention. So, the intervention comes in two forms. The intervention can either be through treatment of some kind, or it can come through surgery.

And most treatments are ineffective and ultimately end in surgery anyway.

And this is a loop. I get a pain message, I ignore it, it goes away, I get it again, I ignore it, and you start looping down here and ultimately there’s trauma, which brings us to our next level. After trauma, we go through a period of rehabilitation. And then we return to training. And then what happens next? The cycle begins again. I’m not being cynical, I’m being literal. The cycle begins again. They either injure the same side again, or they injure the opposite side, or contralateral.

So, the other side in that plane, to the back, to the other side, or the front to the other side. So basically, the first inhibition here will lead to all these things and will lead to a subsequent injury.  So, the cycle goes round and round in circles until the person can’t train and has to quit physical activity or retire from sport. So, with my approach to prevention of injury as being the most important thing a physical preparation coach does, nobody will get surgery, and everything below here becomes redundant. [4] [5]

Sometimes the lack of full rehabilitation is caused by impatience. Sometimes by incompetence on the part of the support team. Sometimes it neither but instead a high-level concept that is outside the awareness of the majority.

Either way there are two indisputable facts – one, it could be prevented. And two, it is going to cause future injuries and negatively impact the duration and or height of the athlete’s career.

Jett’s injuries

Dec 2025 – Fractured right ankle (talus and navicular), surgery

July. 2024 – Torn left thumb ligament (ulnar collateral ligament), surgery

2-25 – ACL tear, meniscus damage, right knee, surgery

Solutions

Rather than simply criticize what’s going on, I provide some guidance for those are looking for a better way to return to sport from injury.

  • Respect the niggle
  • Fix the niggle – fast
  • Get the best guidance possible
  • Establish clarity around risk : reward outcomes
  • Have a clear time frame
  • Ensure optimal rate of rehab
  • Create a progressive return to sport plan
  • Have pre-determined milestones for determine when to return to eath progressive level of sport
  • Stop with the ‘injuries in sport are normal’ attitude

Respect the niggle

The body sends messages about pain and impending injury potential

… generally speaking, most people get a niggle and they ignore it. They get a niggle and then someone else tells them to ignore it. And they get a niggle, and they go to someone and they say, ‘Oh, I don’t know about it, I don’t really know.’ And six months later, it’s a big problem. So, they’ll sit out for a few weeks, and they’ll come back and it’s okay now and they’ll get injured again… A few weeks from now, they’ll be out for a few more months, and it’ll just go like this. This is how sport’s done.[6]

Fix the niggle – fast

I suggest you respect the message, which I call a niggle. And fix it immediately. [7]

The second thing that happens, you get to know about it at this point in time, is you get some sort of symptom or pain. You get a message from the body.

And I’ll call it pain, but most people don’t describe it as pain because it’s too low level. It’s more like a niggle. They feel a niggle. And typically, we ignore it. Or we tell someone about it and they say, ‘oh, it’ll go away shortly, don’t worry about it.’ Or tell me about it if it’s still there in two weeks’ time. The bottom line is it’s really just, now that’s the body giving you a message. There’s something wrong, fix it. Most of us ignore the message. Now there’s also a left-brain desire not to have the problem, so it doesn’t exist, doesn’t exist, put your head in the sand and hope it goes away. My approach to this is I remove the niggle within the first 24 hours.

My approach to this is I remove the niggle within the first 24 hours. I want to get rid of all niggles within the first 24 hours. That means two things. It means the athlete has to report the niggle, and then you have to have the ability to remove it. Now, the athlete can also be educated to the point where they learn to remove it themselves. And athletes I work with are that well-trained and that smart about their body, they know how to address their niggles.[8] [9]

Get the best guidance possible

My hope is that the level of guidance sought at least matches what is at stake.  In other words, in the case of a elite athlete, let alone a potential GOAT, I would hope no stone has been left un-turned, so to speak.

I have spent too much time with elite athletes who were broken when I met them and chose to stay on their own path to know that this is simply not the case.

I don’t put all the blame on the athlete alone, although unless they are a minor (under 18 years of age) they have to take some responsibility.

I believe that in many cases its their support staff or sports medicine team protecting their own egos that denies the athlete the best outcome.

Here are a few examples:

Case study 1 – The athlete was the reigning Olympic champion in their sport, but injury and poor results had meant they were not on track to even qualify to go to the next Olympics. They were advised by their physical therapist to come and see me and they did. They returned to the next Olympics and were on the podium.

Case study 2 – The athlete was the reigning Olympic champion in their sport but injury had meant they were not on track to even qualify to go to the next Olympics.  They wanted to come and see me but their physical therapist didn’t want them to. They sent them to someone else. They failed to qualify and be selected for the next Olympics, and their career came to an end.

Case study 3 – The athlete had missed selection for the Olympics because of injury. The national team doctor had recommended surgery to solve the problem and they did this. The problem remained. The national team doctor had another solution – retire. The athlete did not take this advice, instead following the recommendation of a team mate to see me. They overcame the injury and went to the next Olympics.

Case study 4 – The athlete has just gone to their third Olympics and at the age most have retired by were performing at their career best. They met a physical coach who encouraged them to change their physical coach. They failed to qualify and be selected for the next Olympics, and their career came to an end.

Case study 5 – The athlete had been selected for their first Olympics but had injured themselves prior to the event and could not attend. They began training for the next Olympics. In this time they met with me and they knew I had helped another athlete podium in their discipline. They did not follow my guidance. They had repeat injury prior to the next Olympics but were given to the 11th hour to qualify post-surgery, which they did.  They finally got to their Olympics but how many more? And will they ever stand on the podium at the Games?

Case study 6 – The athlete has just become the first person in their country to win a Gold Medal in a certain Olympic event.  However, injury and poor results had meant they were not on track to even qualify to go to the next Olympics. I met with them and I gave them insights into what was going on.  The athlete was furious with the coach for allowing this situation to develop without understanding what was happening. The coach did all they could to prevent the athlete from continuing along the guidance as it was exposing their mistake.  They failed to qualify and be selected for the next Olympics, and their career came to an end.

What are you willing to do get the best answers? Recently I got up a 4am, flew a few hours, drove a few more – to have a 2 hour consult with a person I believe to be the best in their field in the country – and then returned along the same drive / fly travel, arriving home at 10pm that night. And that was for a non-national level (at the moment) athlete.  Being and getting the best is not convenient.

Establish clarity around risk : reward outcomes

There are times in injuries when I recommend you understand the risks and rewards. And there are times you will take the risks and there are times when you will not. But I recommend you be informed and make an informed decision.

The risk reward goes beyond surgery and treatment decisions. It includes return to sport decisions. Unless that athlete is either at the end of their career or the opportunity reward is incredibly high, I do not support return to sport prior to full recovery.

Here’s a challenge for motorbike athletes – you might be limping, but you can still twist the throttle. In other words, you can ride, but should you?

Here are a few examples:

Case study 1- The athlete was selected for their run-on opportunity in their career for their national team. The challenge is they had broken ribs.  We spend some time discussing the risk : reward. If they sit out, the opportunity may never come again. If they play, they could puncture their lungs. They sat out. And the opportunity came again. They had promised to gift me that game journey. I lost out on the jersey, but we gained on the future health and career longevity of the athlete.

Case study 2 – The athlete has, I suspect, been offered an inducement not to play, to damage the team’s success.  I had previously salvaged their career through over-rediing a inaccurate diagnosis and treatment path that was seeing them out of their sport for an extended period. They came to me, and every consultant in the team, to support their decision not to play based on a cited injury. I did not give them guidance either way, as I believed that was their decision to make. They chose to sit out. They got the inducement. The team lost that day.°

Case study 3 – The athlete had a displaced clavicle (collar bone)  at the sternum (chest) end. They had been selected to play for their national team. I took them to meet with a trusted orthopedic surgeon. We discussed the risk reward at length. If they didn’t have surgery they could play tomorrow, but risk puncturing their lungs. If they had surgery, there would be no risk of lung damage, but they would be out of selection for an extended period of time.  There not competing for selection with other genuine competitors. They chose not to have surgery. They did not suffer any lung damage. They played the number of games they were driven to play.

Have a clear time frame

Time frame matters for perception. There is a saying in sociology that revolts are caused when there is a discrepancy between what someone has been told or been lead to belief, and reality. The same frustration can creep into return to sport decisions.

In sport there are diverse approaches to time frame. One physical therapist I worked with would tell everyone a time frame longer than what they know would occur, I suggest embellishing their reputation as a ‘god’.

Many coaches I have worked with would pressure the medical team to shorten the prognosis time frame for return to sport in the interests of the coaches win : loss record.

Predicted time frames aside, consider also the individual situation. Surgery technique advancements have led to short recovery times, but the human doby ultimately will decide, in collaboration with how and what you are doing, when it is ready. This reality needs to be including in the counselling of the athlete from the start.

Ensure optimal rate of rehab

If or when the rehabilitation from injury is going slower than is optimal, frustration and the associated poor decision making can come into the equation.

People just accept slow rehab and then they train at the same time because they’re not going to take two months off or six months off or two years off training. So, it just slows it down again. You know, slow rehab causes a lot of problems…I want to get results really fast. [10]

Fix it. It’s not being fixed fast enough. Rehabs too slow. Rehab across the world is too slow.[11]

To provide clear expectations around this, I teach that if within two weeks you are not confident that the current consultant or strategy used by consultant is going to get you the results you want within the time frame you want, look to change it up. [12]

And what I’ll teach you is that if the issue isn’t resolved within two weeks, you need to go see someone else. Now I’m being a little bit exaggerated, but not too much. If you’re not making pretty significant progress in a two week time period, move on. Either move on to the technique you’re using in treatment, or move on to another therapist. But the therapists that really annoy me are those who create an emotional dependence of the client or the athlete on them. And it does occur. [13]

If someone is going to a therapist, this is my rule to an athlete: if you go to somebody two times and you aren’t confident that you’re on the road to full recovery, change your direction. You’ve got two shots at it. Fix it or merely fix it in two shots or we’ll move on …. [14] [15] [16]

Create a progressive return to sport plan

The benefit of making a theoretical plan in advance is that it can help you mitigate decisions influenced by non-optimal factors such as athlete or stake-holder frustration about any delays in return to sport.

This plan is a projection and can be simple or structural in nature. However, no matter how minimal the plan, an expectation set in relative calmness prior to the moment it is needed is a wise step in this situation.

For example – and only as an example e-  training comes before competition, lower-level competition comes before higher level competition, and race simulation in training comes before lower-level competition.

Have pre-determined milestones for determine when to return to each progressive level of sport

Once you have a progressive plan of activity in the return to sport plan, you will want to have a set of criteria to match that activity.

To be blunt, if you are still limping, you are not ready to be racing at the highest level. Yes, you can do it, but that decision is keeping the athlete in the loop.

Ideally, stay consistent to the plan.

My goal is to get this ankle fully healed up and return as competitive as ever and make the 2026 season as successful as we can.—Jett Lawrence, Dec 2025[17]

Stop with the ‘injuries in sport are normal’ attitude

It’s one thing for low level and amateur athletes to blame their injuries on the sport. [18]

I really believe that there is a philosophy at least in western world sport and in general life that it’s okay to be injured and injuries are normal. Aside from the cost of injury to the community, the cost to the individual is significant and my philosophy is that no, it’s not okay to be injured….[19]

However, to hear it from athletes and stakeholders of athletes who are at or aim to be the elite level, it unacceptable.

I have a different attitude, and it’s a better one that ‘injuries are out of our control’. [20]

It is my belief that the injuries are unnecessary and unacceptable. And I get tired of people saying that that’s just the impact in sport. You know, that’s just the nature of the sport. That’s bullshit. [21] [22] [23]

…too many in the sports circle now accept, embrace and even benefit from this high incidence of injury. [24]

With all due respect, it was tough hearing the number one stake holder default to this attitude:

“It’s just one of those things. A lot of people go through it, they have just a few years of just silly mistakes and that’s all it is with Jett. Like, the knee was just something weird, tabbed his foot and it did his ACL, it was just weird, you know.

“So, this one was the same, it just went over a jump, his foot touched the gear lever, clicked it into neutral and boom, had neutral when he hit the face of the next jump. We have not hit neutral on that motorcycle in four years, but just his foot just touched it and that was it, game over.

Here’s a different viewpoint, one that seeks to bring more variables back into the control of the athlete and their support team:

Traumatic injuries, sometimes called impact injuries, occur suddenly and often when significant forces (gravity or external load/other people’s bodies) are involved.  Because of this, it is easy to explain them away as ‘it just happened as a result of the impact’. I do not agree with this. I believe most impact/traumatic injuries are chronic injuries in disguise and can be avoided or at worst reduced in incidence and severity.

If fifty percent of all injuries were of this traumatic/impact nature (just to use an example), I believe that more appropriate understanding of injury symptoms and cause-effect relationships in training program design could eliminate these  chronic injuries. [25]

Conclusion

Jett’s injuries during the last five seasons are indisputable. That he is in what I refer to as the ‘injury loop’ is conjecture. Based on a bit of practice.

I do not expect the case study here to change direction. However anyone in a similar situation, or wishing to avoid this situation, may benefit from from the lessons provided.

However, no lesson will be taken if the common thinking is maintained. This is a Google AI conclusion to the question ‘which knee did Jett Lawrence injury’.

“Lawrence also sustained an unrelated injury to his right ankle during a pre-season training crash in December 2025).

If you think its unrelated, you have a lot of company, with people who abdicate the opportunity to shape their destiny. If it’s unrelated, he is not an my so-called ‘injury loop’.

On the other hand, if you believe the ankle injury may be related to the knee injury, then you might find value in lessons shared.

 

References

[1] King, I., 2025, Legacy Vol 1 – Injury prevention, Theory #77 – The injury loop

[2] King, I., 2015, The Stop Injuries in Strength Training Video Series, Pt 2 of 10 – Why injuries in strength training occur

[3] King, I., 2018, Zero Tolerance to Injuries Video Series, Pt 2 of 10: Why injuries in strength training occur

[4] King, I., 2015, The Stop Injuries in Strength Training Video Series, Pt 3 of 10: Insights into common strength training injury sites and causes

[5] King, I., 2018, Zero Tolerance to Injuries Series, Pt 3 of 10 -Insights into common strength training  injury sites and causes

[6] King, I., 2015, Injury prevention and rehabilitation (Seminar), Singapore 11 April 2015

[7] King, I., 2025, Legacy Vol 1 – Injury prevention, Theory #75 – Remove the niggle in 24 hours

[8] King, I., 2015, The Stop Injuries in Strength Training Video Series, Pt 3 of 10: Insights into common strength training injury sites and causes

[9] King, I., 2018, Zero Tolerance to Injuries Series, Pt 3 of 10: Insights into common strength training  injury sites and causes

[10] King, I., 2012, Speed seminar, Adelaide, Sun 25 March 2025

[11] King, I., 2012, Speed seminar, Adelaide, Sun 25 March 2025

[12] King, I., 2025, Legacy Vol 1 – Injury prevention, Theory #84 – The two week rehab rule

[13] King, I., 2000, Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Series (DVD)

[14] King, I., 2015, Strength Training and Injury Prevention. 2015 SWIS Conference 13-14 Nov 2015, Canada

[15] King, I., 2015, The Stop Injuries in Strength Training Video Series, Pt 1 of 10

[16] King, I., 2018, Zero Tolerance to Injuries Video Series, Pt 1 of 10: Introduction into injuries in strength training

[17] https://racerxonline.com/2025/12/20/jett-lawrence-injured-in-training-crash

[18] King, I., 2025, Legacy Vol 1 – Injury prevention, Theory #29 – It’s not okay

[19] King, I., 2000, Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Series

[20] King, I., 2025, Legacy Vol 1 – Injury prevention, Theory #30 – The sport didn’t cause the injuries

[21] King, I., 2015, Strength Training and Injury Prevention. 2015 SWIS Conference 13-14 Nov 2015, Toronto ONT Canada

[22] King, I., 2015, The Stop Injuries in Strength Training Video Series, Pt 1 of 10 – Introduction to Injuries in Strength Training

[23] King, I., 2018, Zero Tolerance to Injuries Video Series, Pt 1 of 10: Introduction into injuries in strength training

[24] King, I., 2015, Physical train wrecks – it does not have to be this way, 13 Aug 2015

[25] King, I., 2005, The way of the physical preparation coach – Ch 13: Injury prevention and rehabilitation, (Book),

 

Image  “Washougal MX 2021 P1277967” by Ryan Elwell is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Ian King

Reflections of a Dad

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When I receive course submissions such as the one below, in response to a unit in the KSI Child to Champion Course, its rewarding to know the lessons shaped over 45 years of coaching and shared in this educational tool for parents and coaches of the young athlete is worth the effort.

This is what this dad shared with me…

Unit 2 – The purpose of sport

I totally agree with Ian’s approach and message here. If you think about the big picture, how many kids are going pro? Or Division 1? Very few. But that shouldn’t be the goal. If your kid plays a sport growing up, and comes away with it healthier, feeling good about themselves, made a bunch of friends, memories, learned lessons that carry over to life etc, but never play in college or beyond, then in my mind it was a total success.

Absolutely. At 49 years old, I’m amazed by the impact of the lessons I learned from the best (and worst) coaches in my life. In terms of ‘positive’, I had an amazing sensei when I was 7, and the best hockey coach I ever had was when I was 11. I got so spoiled I thought all my coaches would be like that (they weren’t) But what I took away from just those two men was amazing, and shaped so much of who and what I am today. It was a huge thrill that I was able to take my older son to that same sensei when he was 8.

When I find a youth sports coach in any sport that makes the kids’ self-esteem a priority, I work to maximize the amount of time my kids spend with them. The opposite can be tougher (minimizing time spent about bad coaches), but it’s still something I do.

I don’t think I’ve seen many coaches that are malicious, and actually set out to humiliate kids, etc (though I’m sure there are some malformed people out there) but I do see a great many coaches that pay lip service to ‘having fun, creating a fun environment’, etc, but when push comes to shove, parents are yelling, heat of the game, they revert back to ‘just win baby’ mentality. I will admit that while I’ve never bought into the youth coaching ‘win at all costs’ thing, I have caved to parental pressure and changed my approach for the worse. Especially when I was young.

I’m going to talk to both of my sons today about their mindset. How they approach each practice, game, training session, etc, and focus on how they see themselves, what they’re capable of, etc. Prioritizing their self-esteem, that growth mindset, that it’s not all about the scoreboard, etc.

I think this section should be required reading for youth coaches, gym teachers, anyone working with kids in a sport/training environment.-John, USA

This has got it all – relating to the message through personal experiences that have seen the highs and lows of youth sport, living through it again with his kids, and being inspired to act in the now to shape a better outcome for the next generation.

And that response was just to one of the early units, in a course with over 60 units.

Thanks dad John for sharing those well considered reflections!

Learn more about how we are helping parents and coaches of the young athlete here.

Ian King

I wonder if these coaches care

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I was in the equivalent of a Home Depot in Australia about a year ago. A chain of stores by the name Bunnings. I sought the assistance of one of the workers in the store. I noted his height and could not help myself – I asked him if he had used it in sport.

About an hour later we wrapped the conversation. I learnt a lot. I learnt he was a talent-identified athlete, selected in national junior squads, played overseas including the US – until his injuries forced very premature retirement. I was struck by one particular statement. He said during his short career he found himself asking the question:

I wonder if these coaches care whether I can bend over and pick up my kids when I get older… and now I can’t.

As anyone familiar with my work knows that statement is very close to home – you can this in Theory #11 and #117 in Legacy 2nd Ed Vol 1

And that’s because I want a long career in sport. I want you to LeBron James for 21 years. And that’s five Olympic cycles, 20 years. That’s at the top. That’s what I want. And then I still want you to be able to play with your kids 20 years later. That’s the difference. [1]

And now he was having kids and had concerns for them in sport….And, he struggles to bend over and pick them up…

I excitedly told him about all my learnings in this area and that I could give him access to some videos…

Then I felt the guilt. I had not done enough. I needed to be able to give him something more concise. This has burnt me for the last year, and now I am making amends.

I have worked to create and make available an educational program that I hope can help the parents and coaches of the young athletes that have a nagging feeling that is must be a better way – and are looking for guidance to find that way.

Do you have children or coach children in sport? If so, you may find value in this latest offering. If not, I understand. After all, according to Ben Sasse, former US Senator of the great state of Nebraska (2015-2023)… and (who is tragically battling late stage cancer)

One of the unexpected by-products of the digital age is Americans are “having less sex and making fewer babies.” [2]

Fortunately, my life’s work is not focused on what popular or trending. After all, I was focused on strength training in the 1980s when most athletes and coaches were led to believe it would make you muscle bound and injured.

In fact, history has shown that typically the topics I focus on lead a renaissance of interest…

What I took too long to say was I understand and apologize if I have taken up your time on a subject of no interest to you – the athlete preparation of the young athlete, 0-18 years of age.

I spent my first two professional decades, between 1980 and 1999, with an almost exclusive focus on the adult athlete.  Once we began to build a family, I realized the gap in my competency, and this was a failing to serve my children.  I had been moved by the saying:

The cobbler’s children have no shoes.[3]

I had seen it in too many other professionals’ lives and didn’t want to make that mistake. After all, what athlete deserved  more attention than my own children.

So, I set out as a serious student of the athlete preparation of the young athlete. I did have the benefit of my prior 20 years.

Firstly, I was exposed to the work Dr. Tudor Bompa, a Romanian who immigrated to Canada, and published what I still believe is the best book ever on the theory of athlete development, in his 1983 Theory and Methodology of Training. I read his books, attended his presentations, met personally for discussions, and even shared the stage in a speaking engagement. My appreciation of his contribution runs through all my published works.

I also was fortunate enough also to have spent 10 of those early years working and collaborating with a former Hungarian who emigrated to Canada by the name of Dr. István Balyi. When we first met in 1989 in Canada, I had not heard of him. By the turn of the century his reputation as a world leader in long-term athlete preparation was taking shape. By 2010, the acronym LTAD had become an industry buzzword, one of those must quote line where nothing changes, just your ability to say the words.

After two decades of adult coaching and one additional decade focused on research and application of training the young athlete, I began sharing what I had learnt in 2010 onwards.  As I explain in Theory #13  of my recent book Legacy 2nd Ed Vol 1 – – A decade of testing:

… the concepts that I typically developed over a decade and then shared with the world …. [4]

I do normally refine my concepts for about five to ten years before talking about them. So, I don’t rush them to the market. [5]

The pattern I have established is test and refine a training concept or innovation for about a decade before sharing it as a recommended way.[6]

From 2010 onwards I conducted a series of presentations in various countries, teaching parents, coaches of the young athlete, and the young athletes themselves, what I had leant. [7]  [8]  [9]  [10]  [11]  [12]  Whilst still continuing to apply and research in this area.

Now in 2026, over a quarter of a century after I set out on this journey, I believe I have earned the right to share what I have learnt.

For those who are genuinely interested in improving their ability to serve the young athlete – as a parent and or coach – I welcome you to share this journey as we formulate an online course like no other to serve this specific niche.

Why? Because as I explain in Theory #18 of Legacy 2nd Ed Vol 1….

I owe it to the athlete

To bring you into this…

We owe it to the athlete

This raises the question – where is the world going? If I was to predict the future based on the current plots on the graph – I would say we are heading into an undesirable direction.  I have seen nothing to date to suggest otherwise. 

This is bad news for some, good news for others. Those who stand to lose include the athletes and their families who are hurt by the lost opportunities of their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

Those who stand to gain include the injury treatment and rehabilitation sector (doctors, surgeons and physical therapists in particular).

Another party who will gain are those who master the KSI way. It’s getting increasingly easier to provide a superior alternative to the average. However, at what cost to the athlete?  This is a self-serving benefit from which I take no joy.[13] 

We do today what others will do tomorrow. Why? Because we innovate ruthlessly in pursuit of the answer to the question ‘What is the best way to train?….[14]

In creating this educational program, I am making amends to the athlete I spoke about above, who never got be play adult sport. And to all the other young athletes, parent and coaches who believe there is a better way but not sure what that is.  And I am reaching out to all current and future young athletes, their parents and their coaches.

The Child to Champion Course was built for you.

 

References

[1] King, I., 2025, Building a body that lasts, Kent UK, Wed 8 Oct 2025 (Seminar)

[2] https://abcnews.com/Politics/book-excerpt-ben-sasses-hate-heal/story?id=58506498

[3] This saying is explained by Google AI as a mid-16th century proverb indicating that a person with a specific skill or expertise often neglects to apply that skill for their own family or personal benefit. It highlights the irony where a professional is too busy serving others to take care of their own needs.

[4] King, I., 2013, Report #1: Keys to success in coaching athletes, King Sports International

[5] King, I., 2016, A coach’s guide to preventing, identifying, managing, and rehabilitating lower back injuries, SWIS Presentation, Canada

[6] King, I., 2025, What’s in a name? Pt 1 – The origin and intent of the term physical preparation coach, (Blog  www.kingsports.net), 16 May 2025

[7] King, I., 2011, Child to Champion, Brisbane, AUS, 14 March 2011 (Seminar/Video)

[8] King, I., 2011, Child to Champion, Brisbane, AUS, 14 March 2011 (Seminar/Video)

[9] King, I., 2014, Child to Champion, Barrie, Ontario, CAN,10 April 2014, (Seminar/Video)

[10] King, I., 2014, Child to Champion, Cape Cod MA USA,13 April 2014, (Seminar/Video)

[11] King, I., 2014, Child to Champion, Cape Cod MA USA, 21 November 2014 (Seminar/Video)

[12] King, I., 2017, Child to Champion Seminar, Cape Cod MA, USA Thu 9 Nov 2017 (Seminar/Video)

[13] King, I., 2011, KSI Coaching Program L1 Legacy Course, Ch. 34- Concerns for the world of physical preparation

[14] King, I., 2023, The Between Sets Newsletter The KSI Newsletter No 222 Dec 202-3Jan 2024

Ian King

Celebrating the life and contribution of Istvan Balyi

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This article is about Istvan Balyi, who positioned himself as one of world’s leading experts on periodization and integration of training in sport. It is intended to celebrate his life and contribution, including from my personal and professional, first hand and over quarter of a century of association perspective.

I’ve been to memorials where individuals speak about the dearly departed yet manage to talk more about themselves. I’m conscious to avoid this yet acknowledge that I choose only to speak about Istvan through my personal observations and interactions with him.

Istvan’s journey to Canada from Hungary

Istvan was born in Hungary on 23 July 1942 in Debrecen, Hungary. He attended the Hungarian University of Sports Science and completed his undergraduate degree there. In 1974 he was in Montreal Canada with the Hungarian Olympic team’s advanced mission when he chose to walk out of the hotel and seek asylum. [1]

His Canadian work life started out working  teaching physical education at the University of Montreal, then onto the University of Ottawa and later the National Coaching Institute at the University of Victoria. [2]

My introduction to Istvan

I was introduced to Istvan by Charles Poliquin in about 1989 when I stayed with the Canadian Alpine Ski team for a summer camp. Poliquin had been one of his students at Ottawa. For the next ten years I worked closely with Istvan in his role as Sport Science Director for the Canadian Alpine Ski team.

The Sports Science Director for the Canadian Alpine Ski team in the early 1990s was Istvan Balyi.  Istvan is the most effective sports scientist I have ever worked with.  He represented his native country of Hungary in the 1964 Olympics (swimming) and therefore had a feel for the athlete and the training process.  He completed his undergraduate degree in sports science in Hungary, where he rubbed shoulders with a number of internationally recognized Hungarian sports training experts.  He completed his PhD in Canada, a country proud of its sporting achievements.  He provides a unique service, having a feel for both science and practice. [3]

He also arranged visits and guest lectures for me at various locations throughout Canada through the Canadian Association of Coaching and the National Coaching Institute at the University of Victoria.  Through Istvan I met and spent time with many leading proponents of athlete preparation in Canada. You will note in the 1997 quote below that the first four names are Canadian – such was the influence on me during my time in Canadian sport.

I had so many incredible learning opportunities to meet and question others during my travels.  My trips to North America over the years have resulted in meeting, dining with, and talking shop with so many people that I have lost track.  Istvan Balyi, Tudor Bompa, David Docherty, Boyd Epley, Steve Fleck, Vern Gambetta, Ken Kontor, Bill Kraemer, Dietmar Schmidbleicher, Mike Stone, Al Vermeil, Harvey Wenger, to name a few.   There are many more – I share a few to get the message across.  No better way to learn! [4]

In return, I introduced Istvan to the Australian Coaching Association, which had heavily modelled what the Canadian Association of Coaching had done, and to the NSCA of Australia (now the Australian Strength Coaching Association). I invited Istvan to speak at some of the national conferences I organized for the NSCA of Australia in the early 1990s.

I still have on my wall today a plaque that Istvan had made for me and presented to me during a seminar he gave in Australia, for my contribution to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. A true gentleman.

Istvans’ transition from committed to recognized

One of the things that stood out to me about Istvan was his focus on training literature and specifically periodization.  There would not be a day that goes by in camps in Canada where he would not knock on my door in our accommodation and say, ‘Ian, have you read this article?’ And give me a copy.

There would not be a week or month that goes by in Australia that I would not get a fax from Istvan. In addition to administrative emails about our shared responsibility with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, there would be more ‘Have you seen this article?’ and a copy attached.

New South Wales (an Australian province) rugby trots out the line each year (at the start of the season!) about how fit they are!   History shows no results for their 11-odd year involvement in the Super 6, 10 and 12 competitions!  In fact, they usually fade halfway through the competitive season – badly.  Which is no surprise, for even the research collated by my colleague Istvan Balyi shows that elite athletes exposed to more than eight to ten weeks of high intensity energy system training will ‘fry’! [5]

He was my gold standard in being hungry for and appreciative of anyone who left bread crumbs in writing about athlete preparation.

In addition, our training discussion in person during my multiple visits per year over a decade was something a sports coach nerd can only dream of. Istvan was very appreciative and respectful of my own interest in his favourite subject, periodization and integration of training. He included one of my long-term athlete development tables in his Kinetics books (to his credit one of the only times a publisher has reached out to me in writing to seek approval to use my works). I would expect nothing less from a person with integrity, as was the case with Istvan.

When I met Istvan I was not aware of him outside of the ski team, and then over the next few years, his reputation in Canada grew. He worked very hard to connect with and contribute to as many sports as he could, in what was in that era arguably the finest sports coach education system in the western world.

By the late 1990s, his reputation had grown internationally. He was getting hired by nations inlead up to home Olympics e.g. Australia 2000, UK 2012, and shared his message with more sports in more countries.

“By the end of his life, he had consulted with more than 50 sports organizations in more than 20 countries. He authored papers, wrote textbooks and was recognized with an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in Budapest in 2022.” [6] [7]

Despite his newfound fame, he didn’t change – he remained humble, hard-working and put the athlete first.

One of my endearing messages of his impact was when I was working with coaches and athletes in the a US state Olympic organizational group around 2010, when they told me all about this expert called Istvan Balyi and their newfound discovery of long-term athlete development. I bit my tongue, as that has been accessible for over 20 years. It did get even more interesting, however, when they told me they had brought in another expert to teach them all about this new thing called bodyweight exercises…The Canadian Alpine Ski Team could have shared that with them from experiencing my program design 20 years earlier….I know, I expect too much…

Working with Istvan

It was a dream to work with him. No ego, no sensitivities, no politics, no BS, total commitment, life focused and athletes first.  Now I have worked with a lot of PhD holders, and there are a few I could say that about. Now I know many of those others have said less than polite things about me, so it goes both ways, I guess. Istvan and the professors I met through Istvan restored my faith in sports scientists with the letter Dr in front of their names, after my experiences with the same at my alma mater in the late 1980s and early 2000s in Australia.  The Canadians were respectful, collaborative and committed to service through adequate humility to know we don’t have all the answers.

There appears competition in Australia as to who should control the training process, the sport scientist or the strength and conditioning coach. The strength and conditioning coach can benefit from sport science input, but I believe the laboratory bound sport scientist is too far removed from the training process to effectively control the training.

One sport scientist who appeared to have come to this conclusion was David Docherty PhD, head of the sport science department at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.  David had a strong interest in all theoretical and practical aspects of strength and conditioning and had been responsible for this aspect of the Canadian National Rugby Team training for many years.  During one of our chats in his office in the early 1990’s he said to me words to the effect “You know Ian sport is after people like yourself, not like me.”  I believe that David had realized that there was a new wave of physical preparation experts coming in, which would make it difficult if not impossible for him to be both an academic in sport science and the strength and conditioning coach.

This is not to suggest that sport scientists have nothing to offer in the practical environment.   I recall doing an Olympic lifting training session with American bio mechanist John Garhammer, during which he gave me some valuable tips on my lifting technique.  John is well known for his biomechanical analysis of the power clean, amongst other things.  Other sport scientists have proved their abilities in practical application in athletic preparation – take Istvan Balyi (PhD) of Canada for example – one of the best working colleagues I have had to pleasure to be involved with.[8]

Once I had earned my respect, Istvan gave me full rein in taking over areas of training that traditionally he had controlled.

My role was greater than the services they had been previously provided  – I programmed and taught speed, strength, endurance, flexibility, lifestyle, recovery, and some nutritional issues.  It was the first time in about a decade that the then Sport Science director, Istvan Balyi, had relinquished the periodization and integration roles.  He provided a broad skeleton of dates, and I filled in the specifics.  This was a big step for Istvan, and he was not to be disappointed.  With his blessing I applied my methods of reverse periodization of the energy systems.  [9]

I believe this was because he had previously hired individuals with an exclusive focus on strength training.

Despite being an internationally recognized expert in periodization, Istvan slowly relinquished the role of periodization of the skier’s programs to me.  He had previously utilized the traditional approach to periodization, applying the aerobic base theory.  Somehow, I had obtained his trust, and he watched as I implemented radical new ways of training in the general preparation phase.  He didn’t necessarily agree but was open-minded.  This despite it being in contrast to his long-serving methods.  He was keen to watch the impact on the aerobic measures and skiing performance. 

In the year leading up to the 1994 Winter Olympics, I implemented an alternative method with all the male skiers.  The result.  No negative alteration of aerobic fitness, and the best skiing results in a decade.  Istvan was impressed.  I was relieved and very happy, not that I doubted the methods – just that, like any sport, so many variables exist. [10]

I learnt a lot from Istvan, not the least his Eastern European approach to training. I speak about this a lot in my writings.[11]  This influence on my coaching cannot be understated.

Istvan was, as I have made clear, my kind of colleague and teammate. He was totally focused on the athletes. There was limited idle chit chat; it was always focused. He was collaborative and respectful, and received that in return. It was not about him, his ego, his future employment, how much fame and fortune he could scrape out of sport. The opposite of Istvan sums up most coaches and support staff I have worked with over the last 45 years – and there have been many. So, I was blessed with this quarter-century association.

I noted with comments about Istvan the person, such as below:

“In addition to sport, they shared a common love of books and music. They eventually married and had a son, Nick. Despite being emotionally remote, Istvan worked hard to provide for Ann and Nick.” [12]

No such complaint from me. However, I have learnt that some seek more from others than coaching guidance.  A committed, highly focused, serving others kind of sports consultant may have some limitations outside of sport. And I speak for all of us who fit this description. They have been my most valued colleagues. I apologize to Anne and Nick for taking up their time.

Conclusion

Istvan passed away on 3 December 2024 in Sooke, B.C., of liver failure; aged 82.

I have seen many tributes to his life published, which is appropriate. Having spent collaborative time with Istvan during the period he shaped his long-term athlete development model, and knowing that our discussions contributed to that, I believe I speak with his approval when I clarify one point.

Some tributes, in my opinion, mistakenly attribute Istvan with creating long-term athlete development, being the ‘architect’. That may be true from their perspective. However, in respect of all those who published on the subject before Istvan, and who Istvan drew inspiration, I believe some clarification is needed. I believe Istvan would have said the same thing.

. I was with him, watched him, read his references enough to know that he respectfully collated the work of those who came before him, and distilled that into a working model to suit the culture and systems of modern Western world training. He championed the concept.

What Istvan unequivocally did was bring to the Western world’s attention what the ‘others’ (Eastern bloc) countries have known and been doing for a long time. He had the drive, the persona, the commitment to sport to make it his life’s mission.

For that, he deserves to be acknowledged. That was his life message. I can only hope that ‘LTAD’ is more than a passing trend, that more coaches take the time to study, internalize and implement it. It’s more than a catch phrase, more than a theory. It was designed to make life better for all future athletes.

I conclude with statements I made in 1997, 28 years ago:

… Istvan is the most effective sports scientist I have ever worked with. …take Istvan Balyi (PhD) of Canada, for example – one of the best working colleagues I have had to pleasure to be involved with.[13]

 

References

[1] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-sport-scientist-istvan-balyi-changed-canadian-coaching-and-ate-hot/

[2] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing

[1] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-sport-scientist-istvan-balyi-changed-canadian-coaching-and-ate-hot/

[2] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-sport-scientist-istvan-balyi-changed-canadian-coaching-and-ate-hot/

[3] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing, Ch 7 – Training Theories

[4] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing, Ch 19 – Professional development

[5] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing, Ch 27 – The high volume road show rumbles along

[6] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-sport-scientist-istvan-balyi-changed-canadian-coaching-and-ate-hot/

[7] It was great to see his alma mater acknowledge him. That’s not something we can all expect. Shows great values on their part.

[8] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing, Ch 18 – Other support staff

[9] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing, Ch 23 – Watching Rome crumble

[10] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing, Ch 7 – Training Theories

[11] It’s tragic to see those who copy my work using the same words as if they too were there– I spent time and collaboration with Eastern Europeans – it was time and labor intense, took up a large part of my life, but so worthwhile. It’s heartbreaking to see this trivialized by the strokes of a keyboard.

[12] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-sport-scientist-istvan-balyi-changed-canadian-coaching-and-ate-hot/

[13] King, I., 1997, Winning and Losing

 

© 2025 Ian King & King Sports International. All rights reserved.

Ian King

An athlete called to say thanks

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Reflections on gratitude.

A few days ago, an athlete called me to say thank you. Unsolicited.  Not for the winning, which we did. But for the lessons shared.  You might ask ‘So what. There’s nothing special about a thank you.’ So, I will share this – the period of time the athlete was referring to occurred 30 years ago.

It is no coincidence that just a few weeks prior in a webinar with a global audience, I spoke about this:

And that’s just a little example of gratitude that it’s a lifelong gratitude from an athlete when you help them create a legacy and fulfil their potential.[1]

I say no coincidence because this expression of gratitude over this time frame is not an uncommon experience for me.

Those who spend a few days with me know it’s unlikely much time passes when a real athlete who I really helped win expresses their unsolicited gratitude. [2]

However, it still stands out.  For me, it speaks to the character of the athlete. I take as much pride in the person I have helped them become as in the sporting legacy.

I have encouraged this trait in writing:

Show gratitude. The human emotion of gratitude is one I value and teach in all aspects of living; however, in the context of the student, I strongly encourage you to use it. Whether the teaching is short or long, what you wanted to hear or not, express your gratitude. This rewards the teacher and encourages them to continue teaching – be it to you or subsequent students.[3]

The premium I place on culture is reflected by its presence in KSI’s 19 points of culture:

Gratitude … I am a truly grateful person. I say thank-you and show appreciation often and in many ways, so that all around me know how much I appreciate everything and everyone I have in my life. I celebrate my wins and the wins of my team and clients. I consistently catch myself and other people doing things right … [4]

Personal character traits, including gratitude, figure high in our athlete development message:

I don’t have an expectation for them, it’s their path in sport, but as far as behaviour and attitude, that’s not really negotiable. To do their best and be positive, show gratitude and be courteous, respectful. [5]

And it’s not just the athletes. As coach education is the almost-as-long-serving concurrent aspect or our combined service, we also receive similar in this genre – unsolicited, multi-decade later gratitude.

Ian,  your teaching has been something I have been using since we met over 20 years ago. One of the best decisions I made in my life.  It has helped me tremendously professionally  & personally. Just wanted to say thanks.—Miguel [6]

You might see others reach similar conclusions:

I think the same thing happens with relationships. Business, personal, family relationships, etc. They start off young and that’s when you can build almost a “relationship myelin” around them. You do that by being honest with people, by showing gratitude, by not overusing the connection, by treating it just right so it develops into something that can last a lifetime. If someone does something for you, show you are grateful.[7]

People often ask, ‘Who was your favorite athlete?’ To which I respectfully decline to answer, deflecting by saying something along the lines of ‘A parent should not have a favorite child’. Then I go on to say I can, however, tell you about those who make their mark by their character trait of consistent and long-term gratitude.

Such as the athlete whom I helped to a Silver Medal in the 1992 Auckland Commonwealth Games, who would send me an annual thank you card for years following…

Or the contact sport athlete who became the most capped in the world in his sport and reached out to me by phone annually for the year following…

Or the athlete who, 30 years later, gave me reason to share this.

 

References

[1] King, I., 2025, Optimal athletic performance, Kent, UK, Sat 11 Oct 2025 (Seminar/Video)

[2] King, I., 2019, How did you develop your approach to flexibility, Off the Record #50, 31 July 2019

[3] King, I., 2005, The way of the physical preparation coach, Ch 21 – Become a student

[4] King, I., 2009, KSI 18 Points of Culture

[5] King, I., 2014, Coaching Mastery, Cape Cod, 13-14 April 2014, USA (Seminar)

[6] King, I., 2025, Personal communication, Email received 25 March 2025

[7] Altucher, J., 2014, 10 Things I learnt when interviewing Tony Robbins about money, The Stanberry Digest,18 Nov 2014

The power of a decade
Ian King

The power of a decade (or longer)

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I celebrate the outcomes possible when an athlete or team chooses to collaborate with us to achieve their sporting goals.

Why? Because I have found it to be a very effective period of time to work with an athlete or team.

This premise has been reinforced by many thought leaders in recorded Western civilization, in words to the effect.

We overestimate what we can achieve in a year and underestimate what we can achieve in a decade.

Can great things happen in shorter time frames? Yes. I have helped athletes podium at the Olympics in shorter time periods.

However, the rate of change achieved by the athlete will be determined by many factors, including the competence of the coach and the readiness of the athlete.

Is a decade the best time frame to plan and enact high-level sports preparation? Probably not. More likely, the quadrennial time period is more appropriate – a four-year period, coinciding with the time frame of the Olympic Games.

Most Olympic sport athletes measure their time and careers in Olympic or quadrennial cycles. My expectation for a long and fulfilled period of Olympic involvement is five Olympic cycles, which equates to two decades ore twenty years. A number of Australian Olympians have achieved that goal, including an athlete whom I worked with leading into his first Games in Clint Robinson.

A decade of time as it relates to an Olympic athlete will only span two and bit Olympic cycles. If an athlete can achieve this, I expect they would feel satisfied e.g. Brownyn Mayer, an Australian female water polo player who attended the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

However, World Championships are typically annual and therefore a ten-year period does not fit mathematically into the ten-year or decade time frame.

Or at least, not normally, however in the period when the Winter Olymipcs switched from being parallel in year to the Summer Games to being in the alternate two years, three Olympic Games became a possibility. For example, Canadian Alpine skier Rob Boyd attended three Winter Games in a 10-year period – 1988, 1992, and 1994.

However, high-level non-Olympic athletes (or say professional athletes that competed in an annual competition and also are eligible to attend the Olympic Games) would lean towards or resonate with a decade or even a two decade period of time. For example, the 20-year milestone in professional basketball is noted and celebrated. In the US NBA, only 11 players have achieved this. I have not found the equivalent statistic for the Australian NBL, but I know it has been achieved, having helped legendary Brisbane Bullets and Australian Olympian ‘Leaping’ Leroy Loggins achieve the milestone.

There is, however, no argument for a shorter period of collaboration being more effective than a minimum of a decade.

And the superiority of this time frame has been supported by my personal experiences, with multiple teams and many individual sports athletes.

How many? As those who are more familiar with me,  I am not into counting. I have and continue to leave that self-aggrandizement to certain colleagues. A quarter of a century ago, this interviewer worked out this point of difference. Enough to qualify for a professional or expert opinion on it. And to support this, I have only named case studies of athletes in this article where I have had first-hand involvement.

Now at the same time, I need to share that there is also a time for a coach, more so of a team or squad than of an individual coach, to move on. Sometimes, overstaying that mark does not end well.

I have employed this value as well over the decades, and seen instances where perhaps other coaches should have given this more thought.

These considerations about working with an athlete over a decade or more come to mind for me as another KSI athlete moves past this milestone, in my 5th decade of helping athletes.

And the exciting reality is that no matter how the years pass in these long relationships, we both learn new things continually, which will help us improve our performance.

Take today for example, when I was working with the athlete who has achieved this milestone of a decade with me, when we learnt a certain aspect about his skills that we had not uncovered before. A certain thing that will unlock further possibilities on the upside.

And that’s one of the many benefits of that long relationship.

Ian King

Forever 59

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This weekend, in the rural Victorian (AUS) town of Wonthaggi, athletes will be suiting up, warming up, and putting their best efforts out there in Round 1 of the Australian MX National Championships.  In most years this would just be another season start. However, this event is made more significant because it was at this same round just over twelve months ago that a 20-year-old Queensland-based MX rider paid the ultimate price.

It will be a challenging weekend for all who are connected to the memory of Bradyen’s fatal crash so recently.

Brayden Erbacher’s passing was a tragedy. These tragedies are not restricted to any one sport or individual.  The last fatal accident during competition in The Pro motocross championship was the loss of Andrew McFarlane who passed away after crashing at Broadford on May 2nd, 2010.[1]

All elite-level athletes to varying degrees relate to and share the risk-reward challenge of sport, and have immediate empathy for athletes such as Brayden, their family and friends. But what about the sport? Does the sport care enough to honour the legacy of the athlete in moments such as this?

This article reflects on the way motocross (MX) globally has shown they care, and that Brayden will not be forgotten.  And in sharing this one-year report card on the sport of MX, I trust that it adds to the legacy of the racer.

Many organizations and individuals within the motocross community since that fateful moment on March 7, 2023, have acted in a way that deserves to be recognized.  These include the following.

  • Brayden’s family
  • Motorcycling Australia
  • Rohan Jenkins
  • Hunter Lawrence
  • Sunshine State MX Series
  • The Kilcoy Motorcycle Club
  • The Manjimup Motor Cycle Club
  • Johnny Hopper
  • FIST
  • Thrilla
  • Brayden

NB. If anyone has been overlooked, I apologize – send me anything I have missed and I will update the article.:

Brayden’s family

Brayden Erbacher’s  family bore the grief of losing Brayden Despite this the family had the courage to make statements very soon after:

The below statement was issued through Motorcycling Australia:

“The Erbacher Family would like to thank everyone at Racesafe including the paramedics, first responders and the riders and families that supported us.

“We are beyond proud to call Brayden our son and will be forever grateful for having him in our lives. He is our hero and will be greatly missed.”[2]

The following statement was issued through Channel Nine:

His mother Corinne, issued a statement to Nine News on behalf of the family which paid a loving tribute.

“We are shattered beyond words,” she told Nine News. “On behalf of the family, we would like to thank the whole motocross community for their support today while our whole world fell apart. “Brayden touched the lives of so many, and we were so proud to call him our son.[3]

You will see the family at the MX track every race, impeccably presented in clothing supporting Brayden’s legacy.

Motorcycling Australia

Motorcycling Australia, the official body of the sport in Australia, cancelled the event immediately after Brayden’s crash (keeping in mind the incident occurred in the first lap of the first moto in the MX2 Class), and issued the following statement the next day:

Official Statement on Brayen Erbacher

Motorcycling Australia, our ProMX Management Team and the wider motorcycling family are today united in grief at the passing of ProMX MX2 rider #59 Brayden Erbacher, who passed away as a result of injuries sustained in race one of Round One of the 2023 ProMX Championship.

Season 2023 was to be Brayden’s second year in the MX2 Championship, the pinnacle series for 250cc Four Stroke machines. Although a late starter in racing compared to some, Brayden had come to Wonthaggi from Queensland with his family and his Roo Systems Diesel Tuning Race Team to take on Australia’s best. His first ProMX campaign in 2022 had seen illness prevent him from competing for the full season, but a vigorous and productive off-season on the push bike, in the pool and in the gym had seen him return to full fitness and he noted “head is down, bum is up, plenty of work to be done…!” in anticipation of a full ProMX season in 2023.

Away from racing, Brayden was a likeable, handsome, and creative young man. He enjoyed his fishing, camping, and playing the guitar. In his own words, he liked “to keep things fun but I’m also a determined person and like a challenge.” In line with his cheeky nature, he said his career highlight to date was “beating Dan Reardon in a 125 race” and listed his hero growing up as US champion motocross racer Ryan Villopoto.

He also noted he was responsible for “making the #59 more famous than Dad ever did…”

While the ProMX Championship is the peak of Australian competition motocross, and our racing is close and often fiercely competitive, we are still a very close-knit community where friendships and camaraderie cross all bike brands, events and sponsors. Brayden’s passing has affected us all deeply.

Today we share the grief and sadness of Brayden’s family and reflect on a good life that was well-lived but tragically cut short. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends, but also with our own wider motocross and motorcycling family, our officials, volunteers, staff, partners, sponsors and of course the fans of this brilliant but occasionally cruel sport.

Motorcycling Australia will continue to co-operate with the relevant authorities as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident continue. We have offered unconditional cooperation and assistance in these matters.

Motorcycling Australia is assisting the Erbacher Family and Brayden’s team at this difficult time.

Rohan Jenkins

Rohan Jenkins set up a GoFundMe account within a week after the crash to support the family, which far exceeded the initial target set.[4]

The organiser of the fundraiser, Rohan Jenkins, wrote that ‘Brayden touched the lives of many, but none more so than his loving family. This fund is set up for friends, family, work colleagues and the wider community to support Ash, Corinne, Damon and Ellie during this difficult time,’ he wrote. [5]

<div class=”gfm-embed” data-url=”https://www.gofundme.com/f/brayden-erbacher/widget/large?sharesheet=CAMPAIGN_PAGE”></div><script defer src=”https://www.gofundme.com/static/js/embed.js”></script>

Hunter Lawrence

Hunter is one of two brothers who may well become the greatest MX exports out of Australia. Hunter was 23 years old at the time of Erbacher’s passing, and from rthe same country. The weekend after Erbacher’s passing Hunter dedicated his 250SX East victory in Indianapolis to Brayden:

“We work so hard for these days and I want to dedicate this to a young Australian rider who lost their life recently, Brayden Erbacher – this one is for you buddy,” red plate-holder Lawrence said from the podium on Saturday evening. “I know you are over there keeping me safe on such a gnarly track.

“I didn’t personally know Brayden, but I can only imagine what his friends, family and the motocross industry back home are going through, so this one is for you and for all of your friends and family buddy – you were riding with me out there and kept me safe on a gnarly track. This one is for him.”[6]

Sunshine State MX Series

The Sunshine State MX Series, a series many pro riders use to prepare for the National Series, created a lap of honour for Brayden shortly after his crash, captured in this video.

The Kilcoy Motorcycle Club

The Kilcoy Motorcycle Club honoured Brayden’s memory later in 2023 with the naming of a ‘Memorial Club Championship Trophy’:

The Kilcoy Motocross Club has honoured the memory of club member Brayden Erbacher in its end of year presentation on Saturday, dedicating the Brayden Erbacher Memorial Club Championship Trophy.
Brayden’s family Corrine, Damon, Ellie and Brayden’s partner Emily, were there to present the Trophy which was won by 16-year-old Jet Doyle-Andrews. Jet was the club’s Mini Lites Big Wheel A grade overall champion and junior lites A grade overall champion, and was honoured to receive the award which carries the name of his friend. Brayden’s Mum Corrine thanked the motocross community for their love and support and for keeping Brayden’s memory alive.[7]

The Manjimup Motor Cycle Club

A MX club in the regional area of Manjimup, the Manjimup Motor Cycle Club, located 307km south of Perth in Western Australian, issued a statement post Brayden’s passing askin[8]g “…all competitors and attendees at the first round of the 2023 South West Championship Series to wear black armbands in Brayden’s memory. “For a sport that can bring great happiness and elation, it also comes with times of great heartbreak and sorrow,” the club said.

Johnny Hopper

US social media commentator and off-road racer Johnny Hopper dedicated a show to the legacy of Brayden and US racer Ryder Colvin.

Moto Limited

Moto Limited, ‘a moto-centric group of podcasts dedicated to reviewing Motocross and Supercross in the US and Australia’, remastered a show in honor of Brayden.

“This special podcast is in honour of an amazing human. Brayden Erbacher was one of those people that don’t come around very often. A genuine person that was full of character, always down for a good time, and very respectful. He would give his shirt off his back for anyone regardless of who you were.

Brayden did 5 shows and was an amazing cohost when he was in the studio. He was part of a lot of firsts here at the Moto Limited Show and Show 23 has been remastered as he was the first co-host on the first live show.

My thoughts go out to Ash, Corrine, Damon, Ellie, and the rest of his close friends and Family. I can’t believe he’s gone but he will never be forgotten. Rest Easy Mate.”

FIST

Australian handwear company FIST have produced and sell a glove they call the BRAYDEN59 Glove ‘Celebrating the life of Brayden Erbacher, with all proceeds going to the Erbacher Family.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrilla

Australian BMX, MTB, and MX shirts, pants, accessories, and riding gear company Thrila  have produced and sell a Brayden Tee titled ‘Honour Brayden’, where all proceeds go to the Erbacher Family)

.         

Brayden

It would be remiss to leave Braydon out of the acknowledgement. Brayden’s contribution to his legacy is a combination of the who he was, the connections and impressions he made with and on others, his achievements, and the artefacts he created e.g. Instagram.

This post from younger brother Damon Erbacher gives insight into Brayden’s contribution;

“You were the best big brother and I looked up to you every single day. You guided me through life to this point and for that I’ll always be grateful,” the younger Erbacher said on Instagram.

“I’ll forever be grateful for the time spent with you, you always were my No. 1 role model and the way you carried yourself through life is an inspiration to many … You’ll be missed dearly. You’ll always be my big bro.”[9]

Conclusion

Risk is inherent in sport. This risk involved in sports could be placed on a continuum, however it is a constant. What is perhaps not as constant are the responses of a sport as a community to those times when risk causes loss.  The aim of this article is to acknowledge the impressive way in which the Australian motocross community has responded to the death of one of its riders, both at the time and in the time since.

In my five decades of involvement in a wide range of sports at the highest level throughout the globe, I’ve had the opportunity to witness how sports and sports communities respond to tough times. I have been impressed with the way the sport of MX has supported the Erbacher family and honoured the legacy of Brayden through to the first anniversary of his passing.

Forever 59!

 

References

[1] https://www.fullnoise.com.au/fullnoise-news/queenslander-brayden-erbacher-dies-at-promx-opening-round/

[2] https://www.ma.org.au/official-statement-on-brayden-erbacher/

[3] https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/family-shattered-beyond-words-after-young-motocross-rider-dies-after-fall-20230305-p5cpla.html

[4] https://www.gofundme.com/f/brayden-erbacher

[5] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11856905/Motocross-rider-Brayden-Erbacher-GoFundMe-raises-thousands-mum-friends-pay-tribute.html

[6] https://www.motoonline.com.au/2023/03/13/lawrence-dedicates-indy-win-to-brayden-erbacher/

[7] https://www.mqld.org.au/kilcoy-club-honours-braydens-memory/

[8] https://www.triplem.com.au/story/shattered-beyond-words-tributes-flow-for-20-year-old-motocross-rider-killed-in-victorian-event-213769

[9] https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/motocross-rider-brayden-erbacher-20-killed-in-national-championships-tragedy/news-story/0f3eff35cc188a53ba848d8390e2ed96

Ian King

Thanks Tommy

/by

In a quiet rural cemetery outside of Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, United States, lay the remains of Tommy ‘The Duke Morrison’.  Tommy is considered one of the most tragic stories in top-level US boxing. I believe his journey provides a great roadmap for all athletes especially those at the level where fame and fortune come knocking.

Tommy’s time as a world champion was fleeting. However, it may have been the loss of his right to participate in boxing that may been the thing that haunted him the most.

I just want to pursue my dream. That is to fight. That is what God put me here to do. He didn’t put me here to be a doctor or a lawyer. He put me here to fight.[22]

Tommy’s story deserves telling, both to respect his legacy as well as to serve the athletic world as a lesson on so many lessons.

As an athlete advocate, I feel sorry for Tommy, that the outcome of whatever guidance he did receive was not more successful.  At the same time Tommy is not alone as an athlete that failed one too many tests that life presents as an athlete rises the fame and fortune ladder.

His life lessons can serve many.

Tommy had a rough start to life

Tommy Morrison was born in Gravette, Arkansas on January 2, 1969.[1] His mother, Diana, was Native American (half Ponca and half Otoe) and his father Tim’s ancestry is diversely reported as Scottish[2] or Irish[3].  He was raised in was raised in Delaware County, Oklahoma, spending most of his teenage years in Jay.[4]

His early years were apparently tough.  In a later biography of Tommy, the author said:

Morrison…came from a broken home. He was a secondhand son, passed from here to there, from nowhere to nowhere bound, wherever he would stick. His father was abusive. His mother once beat a murder charge. His brother would spend fifteen years in prison for rape. And Tommy? His mother first made him use his fists when he was five years old.[5]

But having a rough start to life is not all negative. Tommy was a third-generation boxer[6], and the circumstances of his upbringing were conducive to creating a fighter:

Growing up predominantly consisted of alcohol and fighting for Tommy as a youngster. In his own words, Morrison said “There was often a lot of anger and violence growing up, I spent a lot of my time protecting people, mostly my Mother”.[7]

Tommy’s early sporting career

Tommy reportedly started boxing at the age of 10, and by the age of 13 was fighting adults on a fake ID. This suggests he was physically an early mature.

“When I saw him win a Toughman contest in the eighth grade, I knew something special was going on,” said Andy Hudson, his best friend. “Fourteen-year-olds just don’t beat the hell out of guys in their 20s and 30s. ” His mother was not surprised. Of all the boxers in the family, she always considered him to be the most natural.”[8]

However, he played other sports as well. He was offered a college football scholarship but turned that down to focus on his boxing career. [9]

Nearly an Olympian

After high school Tommy chose boxing over American football, and in his first year as a full-time fighter (July 6th 1988) Tommy contested the US Olympic trials, coming in second to Ray Mercer, who went on to knock out all four of his opponents in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and win the Gold Medal.[10]

The Morrison-Mercer fight at the US Olympic selections was won by a split decision and considered a tougher fight than any of the opponents at the Seoul Olympics.

That was perhaps the first major setback in Tommy’s career. You can appreciate that a win at the trials, followed by a possible Gold Medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, would have created a different path for Tommy. There is no guarantee the end would be any different, but that is a major path difference – between coming first and going to the Olympics and coming second and not going.

Tommy turns pro

Tommy turned pro in 1988 at 19 years of age, after a very brief but busy amateur career. His amateur record has been reported as 311 bouts, with 290 wins and 21 losses, with 263 wins by KO.[11]

His early pro record was so impressive that he was mentioned in the same sentence as Mike Tyson:

By the summer of 1989, he had amassed a record of 14-0. By now, Morrison had the nation’s fans and journalists questioning: who was this force of nature powering his way through the heavyweight division? The fight on everyone’s lips was Tyson vs Morrison…[12]

The Great White Hope 

Tommy carried the burden of being referred to as another Great White Hope. This is a classic saying in US boxing when a big white man is plying his trade with potential in the heavyweight division.

Tommy was referred to endlessly as another ‘Great White Hope’.

I was impressed with how Tommy handled it, which I understand may be surprising to the reader as most of what Tommy did, I had questions about.

Tom told a Sports Illustrated journalist:

“It’s racist…Second, most White Hopes never make it.” [13]

He wanted to distance himself from this concept.

The author of a biography about Tommy was also impressed with Tommy’s stance:

It was inevitable that Morrison would come to be spoken of as a “Great White Hope.” To his credit, he did his best to avoid making race an issue. “It’s kind of sad,” he told the Kansas City Star. “To be honest, it’s a big advantage being white. There aren’t that many white fighters around. But I’d prefer to stay away from that because it’s racist.”[14]

What am I willing to sacrifice to be a World Champion?

In less than a year after turning pro, and at the age of about 20 years, Tommy was faced with what I believe was a career defining moment – do I pursue my goal of being a world champion professional boxer or do I take time away to be a movie star in a Hollywood blockbusting series called ‘Rocky’?

No, not all athletes get asked to detour through a brief Hollywood acting moment. However, all make similarly career-defining questions. The most common is – do I train for the best results in my chosen pursuit irrespective of what I look like, or do I allow my self to be distracted by shiny objects? Even as simple as train to look a certain way at the potential expense of my career?

Now I understand that not all athletes understand the implication of pursuing their visual appearance over performance, and I understand that sometimes it’s the coach overlaying the misguided value that an athlete needs to ‘look’ a certain way to be successful.

There’s more than one athlete who has asked me if they can do more beach muscles, to which I have replied – ‘Sure, when you are retired. Until then we will do the things that matter’.

However, as adults (over 18 years of age) the athlete has to accept the responsibility of their decisions.

Now to be clear Tommy did achieve World Heavyweight Champion status, twice. First in 1993, with the vacant WBO title, that he held for about 4 months and one title defence. The second was in 1986, the IBC belt for 4 months, which he lost the next fight.

Did Rocky V cost Tommy?

Let me ask you – would you have more likely known who Tommy Morrison was if he had been the dominant world champion, or for his role in Rocky V?

Tommy was in an era when success as a heavyweight male boxer was measured against their win-loss record with Mike Tyson. Tommy never got to fight Tyson.

Originally, in the early 1990s, I suggest that was in part because by the time Tommy was getting back into his rhythm post his distractions filming Rocky V, Mike Tyson was heading to prison.

That was strike one.

And by the time Mike got out of prison, Tommy was denied a second shot at Iron Mike for different reasons.

Loose 

By the time Mike Tyson was released from gaol in 1993, Tommy’s career was not necessarily on the up and up. Why? In part because outside of training he was loose. So loose is that the word was his coaching team would try to keep him busy in training because they were not successful in keeping him under control outside of training hours.

The reality was that the boy from Oklahoma was drinking, drugging, and carousing with many, many women. Caton concluded, “he was a womanizer beyond anything I’ve ever known.” [15]

Morrison was notorious for partying, womanizing, and general poor decisions. [16]

He lost his first of two brief World Heavyweight Title belts on his second fight after obtaining it, some say by being out on the drink the night before:

During the build to the fight with Bentt in October 1993, he didn’t take his training all too seriously and… he went to a concert the night before the fight, which is obviously something that fighters just don’t and shouldn’t do, and was drinking beer. Tommy Morrison’s night caught up with him the next day. Nobody was giving Michael Bentt much of a chance but Morrison simply wasn’t ready. ..

How much did that alone cost Tommy?

Tommy Morrison had lost his title and HBO Boxing commentator Jim Lampley was very quick to point out that his $8 million payday with Lennox Lewis was gone as well.[17] [the next fight booking against Lennox Lewis]

That was strike two.

HIV

But all was not lost. Boxing promoter Don King gave Tommy a lifeline to achieve the Tyson fight.

…promoter Don King wanted to give Morrison millions of dollars to fight Mike Tyson in 1996. King knew that the whole world would pay to see the Great White Hope take on the World’s Baddest Man.[18]

Then, in February 1996 – on the eve of the first of three fights under contract with promoter Don King that would have eventually meant a fight with Mike Tyson and $40 million – came the stunning revelation Morrison had tested positive for HIV, probably knocking him out of the ring for good.[19]

That was strike three.

Compared to Magic

Tommy had the opportunity to be the Magic Johnson of boxing. By that I mean they were top athletes in their chosen field when they were diagnosed as being HIV positive, which challenged their future in their respective sports. Even non-sporting people know who former NBA star Magic Johnson is for the way he handled his diagnosis.  He became an advocate for those with HIV. Most non-sporting people have no idea who Tommy Morrison is, in part because of the way he handled his diagnosis. A short time after his press conference announcing his HIV-positive result, Tommy denied he had HIV, and spent the rest of his life – to his death at 44 years of age – maintaining that position.

A difference to Magic was that boxing denied Tommy a license to fight. Magic made a few comebacks to the NBA and played in the 1992 Olympics post his HIV announcement. Things might have been better for Tommy had he too been able to ply his trade. Who knows.

Tommy was understandably affected by the reaction to his condition:

The day Morrison announced he was HIV positive, a sign just outside the Jay city limits that touted his accomplishments mysteriously fell down.[20]

I would walk into a room, and people would be like, ‘Hide the children. Here comes the guy with AIDS.’ That’s very demeaning, and it really hurts your spirit. ”[21]

That’s a tough road for anyone who loses not only their health but also their status. But Magic had been there already, and Tommy could have taken some cues from Magic’s playbook.

Conclusion

Many refer to Tommy’s boxing life and career as tragic. It’s difficult to disagree, however, I believe he also provided a role model – of career-defining decisions that no athlete should be modelling.

In a very lucid moment, in the press conference he announced his HIV-positive test, Tommy said:

“To all my young fans out there, I ask that you no longer consider me a role model. See me as an individual who had the opportunity to be a role model but blew it. Blew it with irresponsible, irrational, immature decisions.”[22]

Sure you could have achieved more, but that sums up the career of most. I believe your life lessons should not be in vain.

Tommy, you were a great role model, and I thank you for that. RIP.

 

References

[1] https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=MO034

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Morrison#:~:text=His%20mother%2C%20Diana%2C%20was%20Native,from%20the%20clan%20Morrison%20ancestry.

[3] https://theneutralcornerboxingdotcom.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/the-duke-the-life-and-times-of-tommy-morrison/#:~:text=Morrison%20was%20also%20a%20talented,City%20to%20begin%20his%20career.n

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Morrison#:~:text=His%20mother%2C%20Diana%2C%20was%20Native,from%20the%20clan%20Morrison%20ancestry.

[5] https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-boxing-articles-boxing-news-videos-rankings-and-results/72749-book-review-the-duke-the-life-and-lies-of-tommy-morrison

[6] https://theneutralcornerboxingdotcom.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/the-duke-the-life-and-times-of-tommy-morrison/#:~:text=Morrison%20was%20also%20a%20talented,City%20to%20begin%20his%20career.n

[7] https://theneutralcornerboxingdotcom.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/the-duke-the-life-and-times-of-tommy-morrison/#:~:text=Morrison%20was%20also%20a%20talented,City%20to%20begin%20his%20career.

[8] https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1993/08/08/morrison-student-of-hard-knocks/62451759007/

[9] https://theneutralcornerboxingdotcom.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/the-duke-the-life-and-times-of-tommy-morrison/#:~:text=Morrison%20was%20also%20a%20talented,City%20to%20begin%20his%20career.

[10] https://olympics.com/en/athletes/raymond-a-mercer

[11] https://theneutralcornerboxingdotcom.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/the-duke-the-life-and-times-of-tommy-morrison/#:~:text=Morrison%20was%20also%20a%20talented,City%20to%20begin%20his%20career.

[12] https://theneutralcornerboxingdotcom.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/the-duke-the-life-and-times-of-tommy-morrison/#:~:text=Morrison%20was%20also%20a%20talented,City%20to%20begin%20his%20career

[13] http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140300/2/index.htm

[14] https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-boxing-articles-boxing-news-videos-rankings-and-results/72749-book-review-the-duke-the-life-and-lies-of-tommy-morrison

[15] https://commonreader.wustl.edu/c/duke-of-hazard/

[16] https://www.insidehook.com/culture/remembering-last-great-white-hope-tommy-morrison

[17] https://www.sportscasting.com/tommy-morrison-once-missed-out-on-an-8-million-payday-for-drinking-beer-at-a-concert/

[18] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/feb/23/boxing.hiv

[19] https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2000/07/30/down-for-the-count-prison-brings-home-cold-reality-for-ex-boxing-champ-morrison/62188292007/

[20] https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2000/07/30/down-for-the-count-prison-brings-home-cold-reality-for-ex-boxing-champ-morrison/62188292007/

[21] https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/tommy-morrison-quotes

[22] https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/tommy-morrison-quotes

Ian King

A lament for the late arrivals

/by

In the modern history of athletic preparation, there has been growing consideration for physical preparation. What the Americans call ‘strength & conditioning’. It may not be accurate to suggest that physical preparation is a new concept. The interpretation of the stories of the Greek athlete Milo of Croton from 6th BC gives support to a longer history.

However physical preparation has changed a lot in the forty-plus years during my professional involvement in sport.

A review of literature review reveals that track and field and then American football led the way in embracing physical preparation during the last century, especially the American version of physical preparation where ‘strength training’ dominants, literally and figuratively (i.e. in the title – strength… and then conditioning).

As surprising as it seems to the younger generation these were the only sports up until about 1980 in the US and 1990 in Australia that fully embraced the American interpretation of physical preparation.

Post 1980 (North America) and 1990 (Asia Pacific) a new wave embraced the American interpretation of physical preparation. Power and mixed energy sports such as most field sports e.g. rugby union, rugby league, Australian Rules Football, to name a few Australian based sports.

I call this the second wave.

Post 2000 there was a third wave that involved sports such as swimming. Some may suggest that swimming embraced strength training earlier – not based on my experiences working with both US and Australian-based swimmers. Let’s just say the discussions in the national team environment, that I was party to, were not favorable in the direction of strength training for swimming. I did not see any real acceptance of this until post 2000, and I include observations of coaching protocols as well as the content being shared at the annual Australian Swim Coaches Association (as it was known then) conventions.

Post 2010 there was a fourth wave that involved sports with great balance and less direct relationship with swimming e.g. surfing, off-road motorcycle racing. I call these the late arrivals.

There is I suggest a pattern to the sequence of acceptance by sports of the American influenced ‘strength and conditioning’. From sports where strength training plays a bigger role through to sports where strength training plays a lessor role.

Table 1 – Four waves of sports that embraced physical preparation.

Phase USA Australia Sports
1 – Early embracers <1980 <1980 Track # field, American football
2 – >1980 >1990 Power and mixed energy sports e.g. rugby, Australian Rules
3 – >2000 >2000 Diverse medium sports e.g. swimming
4 – Late arrivals >2010 >2010 Displacement, balance and more coordination-based sports e.g. off-road motorcycle disciplines

©King, I., 2021

Put simply, there is a reason they are late arrivals. And therefore, blind acceptance and embracing of methodology applied in all other sports has even more potential downsides the further along the continuum you go.

I feel for the late arrivals, and I lament the collateral damage they are potentially walking into. To see they feel, they are being more ‘professional’ by the mere act of ‘going to the gym’ and embracing the same training values as their predecessors sports is hurtful to watch.

There is a reason certain sports were later to the ‘strength training’ party, and if you fail to respect that and fail to reflect and consider more optimal ways, then these sports will pay the biggest price of them all. And I suggest it is happening.

Firstly, if the lessons of the last century of strength training for sport were made available. However, they are not.

Let me give an example. There would be very few swimming coaches in the Australian high-performance environment alive and coaching today who were around in the 1960s when Australian swim coaches began their initial flirtation with strength training. They learned certain things and reacted appropriately, pulling back from this modality, in at least the way it was being done. I base these observations on personal discussions with the late John Carew. I doubt too many if any of the current Australian elite swim coaches have had such discussions. The lessons have been lost.

The outcome is increased injuries and decreased performance. The exact opposite to the proclaimed benefits of ‘strength and conditioning’. A great example of this is Australian rugby, where it’s been nearly 20 years since Australia beat the New Zealand All Blacks for the cherished Bledisloe Cup, and the nation has sunk to a historic low world ranking of 7th in recent years. There are reasons for this, and a big part of this I suggest is the misguided off-field training resulting in decreased performance potential and increased injury incidence and severity.

It’s tough to beat a nation where the players may be more culturally and genetically suited to the game when your off-field training is letting you down.

Secondly, it may also be fine if strength training for sport, the American way, has evolved well past the programs used for American football. However, I suggest they have not.

Again, in anticipation of challenges to my last statement, let me give you an example – a golf scholarship athlete at a Div. 1 US NCAA college given the exact program as the American football team at the same college – post 2010…

Many American football players do not run far, do not touch the ball and so. If you are not playing American football and conduct your off-field training in a way that is heavily influenced, you will pay a price. And I suggest that is happening.

However how many were around in the 1970s transition to the 1980s in physical preparation to know from a personal/ professional perspective what had transpired in the formation of the American interpretation of physical preparation. Not many. The lessons have been lost.

All athletes want to play, and some want to play at the higher levels. In this pursuit, they seek additional and ‘new’ ways to train, to gain confidence they are ‘on track’ e.g., training like ‘all the other pro’s’.

I feel for the late arrivals, and I lament the collateral damage they are potentially walking into. There should have been a better message for you by now, however there is not. Tread carefully.

Ideally, I should be saving I hope your non-specific (physical preparation) training helps you thrive. That would be nice. However, based on my experience and observations – what I know – if you do what the rest of your colleagues are doing in their interpretation of the best way to train, survive may be a more appropriate term.

You deserve better. Our profession has failed to deliver safe training, let alone optimal training. Now it’s up to you to be more discerning. Don’t assume. Don’t imitate. Seek answers, dig deeper, objectively question and interpret the cause-effect relationship of what you are seeing and doing. Be more scientific in your review than our profession is.

Your future depends on it.

And not just your sporting future.

Ian King

Life’s not fair. Even at the Olympics.

/by

Having the 2020 Games postponed by a year and not really being sure whether it was even going to happen was tough.

How hard was it to time a peak in the unknown?

There were the 12 Victorian (AUS) swimmers denied the opportunity to compete in the Olympic trials due to COVID regulations around travel. [1]

There is talk of a Canadian swimmer whose positive COVID-19 test precluding them from their Olympic Trials was shown to be a false positive the day later.

Then there were the three Olympic athletes ruled out of the Games before leaving home due to positive COVID tests.[2] And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

And the Ugandan athlete who test positive upon arrival in Japan and has been ruled out of the Games. [3] And that won’t be the last case we hear of.

And the athletes who have been ruled out after testing positive at the Games – and this is just  Day 1.[4]

Then there was the Canadian female basketball player who had to choose between being a breast feeding mum or an Olympian, as family members have been banned from the Tokyo Olympic Village.[5]

Then there was the US track athlete who had to choose between copping a drug ban for not opening the door to drug testing officials or sharing the abortion she had two days prior to the visit as the reason for not answering the door. The end result – no privacy and a drug ban.[6]

On the flip side there is the 80+% of Japanese who disapprove of the Games happening at all.[7]  One can only assume they feel the imposition of the Games is not fair.

Life’s not fair. Even at the Olympics.

References

[1] https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/olympics/swimming/tokyo-olympic-swimming-trials-australian-athletes-hopes-of-qualifying-crushed-by-covid19/news-story/436ca2c9da2be93cdef478ae4e40ea92

[2] https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1110516/chile-taekwondo-player-tests-positive

[3] https://swimswam.com/vaccinated-ugandan-olympic-athlete-denied-entry-to-japan-after-coronavirus-test/

[4] https://www.npr.org/2021/07/18/1017606827/two-athletes-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19-inside-the-olympic-village

[5] https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/basketball/olympics-canada-basketball-kim-gaucher-breastfeeding-1.6078717

[6] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/sports/olympics/abortion-doping-olympics-mcneal.html

[7] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/17/national/tokyo-olympics-cancel-survey/