Tokyo Olympics gold and silver medalists Marcell Jacobs and Fred Kerley are setting their sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics with fresh coaching partnerships.
Follow Us
Italy’s Marcell Jacobs and Fred Kerley of the United States, who stood on the top of the podium as the 100-meter gold and silver medalists respectively in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, are setting their sights on the Paris Olympics 2024 with fresh coaching partnerships. Jacobs is leaving his native country and heading to Florida to join forces with Rana Reider.
Fred Reider faced a temporary suspension last year, with the U.S. Center for SafeSport conducting an investigation into his behavior. On the other hand, Kerley has taken to social media to announce his new collaboration with Quincy Watts, the 1992 Olympic 400m gold medallist, and assistant at the University of California, who also mentors world and Olympic silver medallist Rai Benjamin.
The Italian track and field federation confirmed Jacobs, 28, is aligning with Reider’s group of athletes in Jacksonville. Despite facing warnings and probation, Reider successfully coached Trayvon Bromell to a bronze medal in the 100m at the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. The details of Reider’s case remain undisclosed, but he admitted to a “consensual romantic relationship with an adult athlete” and faced no other violations, as reported by NBC Sports.
Marcell Jacobs, formerly under the guidance of Paolo Camossi in Rome, has experienced highs and lows since setting Italian records and clinching the gold medal in Tokyo. Born in Texas but raised in Italy, Marcell Jacobs has faced challenges in maintaining his winning streak, as he withdrew from the World Athletics Championships in 2022 due to injuries and secured silver in Istanbul’s European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Fred Kerley, similar to Jacobs, faced elimination in the 100m semi-finals at the Budapest World Athletics Championships. Despite winning the world 100m title in Eugene the previous year, Kerley couldn’t match the performances of his fellow American Noah Lyles. The Texan, once a 400m specialist, conveyed his commitment to change.
Fred Kerley stated, “Choosing to make changes is always risky, even riskier during a year like the Olympics. I felt that I needed to bet on myself. I needed to prove to myself that I was all in and that meant seeking the guidance of COACH WATTS. I’m entrusting him to bring out the best version of myself in the most important athletic year of my career. Ya’ll ready?” Before this, Kerley honed his sprinting skills at Texas A&M University under the watchful eye of Grenada’s Alleyne Francique.
As Marcell Jacobs and Fred Kerley begin these new coaching relationships, the excitement builds around how these changes will shape their journeys toward the Paris 2024 Olympics. The athletics world eagerly watches, as the fans await the unfolding of the exciting chapter and hope these strategic moves lead to winning performances on the global stage.
Read More-
1. Why did Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs pull out of the Florence Diamond League?
2. Twitter reacts as Fred Kerley wins 400m at Sydney Track Classic
3. Watch: Samuele Ceccarelli defeated Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs
