by Larry Eder
The late Emil Zatopek, when speaking of his time as a coach, noted wryly, ‘ sometimes it is quite difficult for great athlete to be a coach. It is much easier to run for them!” John Godina is an exception: a great athlete, who moved over into coaching. He has also gone one step further: Godina has built a world class Throw’s center.
John Godina is one of the world’s finest shot put/discus throwers in our sports history. Four-time World champion, two-time Olympic medalist, Godina was formidable with a career that spanned fourteen years. He is now moving into coaching. He has had some strong success with Dan Taylor, as an example. Taylor is one of the best throwers in the world in 2009. Dan Taylor has had some huge improvements in 2009, and he credits his new coach, John Godina, and Godina’s focused training program.
Dan Taylor, shown here from the US champs, June 2009, photo courtesy of PhotoRun.net.
John has devoted himself to his throw center and now he is expanding with a partnership with Athletes’ Performance. We wish him well!
John Godina’s World Throws Center to expand
Will partner with Athletes’ Performance at its new Phoenix facility
PHOENIX, Arizona, USA (August 6, 2009) – John Godina’s World Throws Center has launched a partnership with Athletes’ Performance, the world-renowned training center whose professional and international clients have included Kevin Youkilis, Chauncey Billups, Laurence Maroney and Germany’s World Cup men’s soccer team. The center will begin operating out of Athletes’ Performance’s new state-of-the-art facility in North Phoenix on September 1.
“We’re excited to become part of such a well-established and respected team,†said Godina, founder and head coach of the throws center, in today’s official announcement. “Our goal is to create the best training and development environment for athletes at all levels, from beginner to Olympian, and this partnership is a big step in that direction. It might be the most significant advancement in the history of throws training.â€
Dan Taylor, who is coached by Godina at the center, will represent the USA at the IAAF World Championships of Track and Field that begin Aug. 15 in Berlin. Taylor, 27, is also the reigning US indoor champion in the shot put.
Godina, 37, is a four-time World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist in the shot put. He retired earlier this year after a 14-year professional career. A two-time Jesse Owens Award winner as the top male track-and-field athlete in the United States, Godina in 1996 became the first American in 72 years to make the US Olympic team in both the shot and discus. A pioneer in the crusade against the use of performance-enhancing drugs, Godina plans to continue his volunteer work with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
In addition to training Olympic-caliber athletes, the World Throws Center offers training, clinics and mini-camps for throwers of all ages and abilities. Among the amenities at the new 31,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in mid-August, are a full weight room, 50-meter sprint track, 25-yard swimming pool, in-ground recovery tubs, massage and physical therapy, nutritionists and an athlete lounge.
620 E. Rose Garden Lane, Suite 1 Phoenix, AZ 85050 480-212-2387
For more on our sport, please check http://www.american-trackandfield.com
