Supercoaches: Ans Botha

All IFACs are special in bringing top Coaching and Performance experts to share their expertise with EACA members.

IFAC 2016 in Formia, Italy was no exception.

From 2014 to 2016 I had the privilege of being consultant Performance Director in South Africa, in preparing for the Rio Olympics.

In that time I had opportunity to work with Ans Botha, coach to Wayde Van Nierkerk, as she prepared him to challenge for Olympic 400m Gold and for a World Record in the process.

We met after the Beijing World Championships in 2015 and discussed what it would take to run 43:00 secs.  Analysis suggested 20.5 for first 200; 22.5 for second.

That would seem impossible to many but not to Ans and Wayde.

First, on 12 March 2016 he ran 9.98 for 100m in Bloemfontein to become the first man in history to run sub 10 secs in 100m, sub 20secs in 200m; and sub 44 sec in 400m.

He then repeatedly won 200 races in around 20.5 secs.

All this was the genius of Ans Botha in preparing Wayde to be physically, mentally and emotionally ready for a brilliant run from lane 8 in the Rio Olympic 400m final.

On the night his 100m splits were 10.7; 9.8 (20.5 200m); 10.8; 11.3 when the times were corrected to 0.00 that gave 43.03 – a new world record and gold medal.

EACA is proud to have been the first sports body, National or International, to invite Ans, one of history’s greatest athletics coaches, to share her experience and expertise with the coaching community.  Not only did Ans give a presentation/interview but conducted a seminar for 400m coaches and another for female coaches.

She truly is a wonderful person.

If you want to know more about her story, all EACA’s website members can watch my interview with her.

EACA’s website Premium and Pro members can also watch her speaking at IFAC 2016 in Formia (Italy) and IFAC 2020 online.

IFAC 2021 subscription

IFAC 2022 Tickets Sale NOW OPEN!

November 4th to 6th in Padova (Italy)

IFAC 2022 tickets are On Sale!

The first five speakers we announce are:

  • Laurent Meuwly (coach to Femke Bol), who will present on “Performance Consistency and Peaking” plus will lead two practical sessions on sprints and hurdles 
  • Marco Airale (coach to Darryl Neita), who will present on “Coach Development” plus will lead two practical sessions on sprints and track-side Performance Therapy
  • Herbert Czignon (coach to Yvonne Buschbaum), who will lead a panel plus will lead a practical sessions on Pole Vault
  • Rita Engelbrecht (from remote), a World authority on High Performance on 100/110 and 400 hurdles
  • Terseus Liebenberg (from remote), coach to World class javelin throwers

You can find all the information to attend to the 2022 International Festival of Athletics Coaching on the dedicated page of the EACA website.

The line up is still under construction and it will be updated frequently so keep visiting the page in the following weeks!

If you have any question feel free to send an email at ifac@athleticscoaches.eu

Looking forward to meeting you in Padua!

Basic IFAC 2022 Programme

Friday, November 4th Saturday, November 5th Sunday, November 6th
14:00 - 15:00 Accreditation
15:00 - 19:30 Presentations and Panels
20:30 Dinner
08:15 - 09:00 Accreditation
09:00 - 18:30 Practical sessions on all events
20:30 Dinner
08:45 - 09:00 Accreditation
09:00 - 13:30 Presentations and Panels
20:30 Dinner

IFAC 2022 Ticket Sales open tomorrow!

November 4th to 6th in Padova (Italy)

Tomorrow at 3:00PM CEST tickets to attend to IFAC will be On Sale!

The line up of the International Festival of Athletics Coaching is still under construction but tomorrow we will announce a couple of speakers that you don’t absolutely want to miss!

IFAC 2022 will see a saturday of exclusive practical sessions!

Stay tuned on EACA homepage and social media to discover more tomorrow at 3:00PM!

Basic IFAC 2022 Programme

Friday, November 4th Saturday, November 5th Sunday, November 6th
14:00 - 15:00 Accreditation
15:00 - 19:30 Presentations and Panels
20:30 Dinner
08:15 - 09:00 Accreditation
09:00 - 18:30 Practical sessions on all events
20:30 Dinner
08:45 - 09:00 Accreditation
09:00 - 13:30 Presentations and Panels
20:30 Dinner

IFAC 2022: Back on site!

November 4th to 6th in Padova (Italy)

It was since January 2019 in Loughborough that the International Festival of Athletics Coaching was forced to go virtual, losing the annual opportunity to meet coaches all together in a single place and attend to world-class presentations and practical sessions.

But now it’s time to hug again!

Stay tuned on EACA website and social media to discover more in the following weeks!

Malcolm Arnold talks about coaching evolution at IFAC 2020

IFAC 2020 continues to add high-caliber pieces to its line-up.

Today is Malcolm Arnold‘s turn to be announced as a speaker at the conference. Malcolm certainly needs no introduction and his presence becomes a great opportunity for all coaches, especially the youngest, to hear from one of the greatest hurdles experts ever.

If you don’t want to miss this insight in Arnold’s experience, sign up to the conference!