April 22.2013 –Dan Pfaff has been named to the dual roles of Head Coach of the World Jumps Center and Human Performance Director of the World Athletics Center, based in Phoenix, Ariz.Pfaff, who has coached nine Olympic medalists and five world record-holders during his famed 39-year career, was appointed by World Athletics center founder John Godina. “Coach Pfaff represents the highest level of coaching in our sport,” said Godina, a four-time World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist in the shot put. “Over the course of his long career, he has demonstrated an innate ability to develop champion athletes, and his record stands with the giants in athletics history. The World Athletics Center feels strongly that coaches with experience, success, and continued interest in evolving deserve a place to free their minds and do what they do best—coach and teach. Coach Pfaff will be doing just that.”In his roles at the World Athletics Center, Pfaff will have responsibilities for elite athlete development, coach’s mentorship and education curriculum development, and human performance research and development.Most recently, Pfaff served from 2009 to 2012 as director of the UKA High Performance Centre in London, and coached Greg Rutherford of Great Britain to a gold medal in the long jump at the 2012 Olympic Games in that city. Rutherford is training at the Phoenix, Ariz., facility. Athletes re-locating to Phoenix to work with Pfaff include 2008 Olympic gold medalist Steve Hooker; 2007 World Champion and American Record-holder Brad Walker; 2007 World Champion high jumper Donald Thomas of the Bahamas; and UK pole vault national record-holders Holly Bleasdale and Steve Lewis. Continue reading →

Norwegian rising stars Per Magne Florvaag, Marius Bakken Støle and Joachim Sandberg have spent the last few weeks at the World Athletics Center in Phoenix under the guidance of the centers’ top coaches. Per competes in the Pole Vault and recorded a personal best of 5’30″ at the indoors in Sandnes on home soil. Marius and Joachim are both hurdlers, Marius competes in the 400m hurdles and is currently ranked as no.2 nationally.  To train at the World Athletics Center is a great experience with both good facilities and excellent coaches.’ Said Marius, who was second in the senior national competition in Norway and won the junior competition last year. ‘We are using the facility to prepare for the outdoor season in Europe. It’s great weather here so it’s the perfect preparation.  more

After winning gold at the European Indoors in Gothenburg earlier this year, Holly Bleasdale is hoping to emulate that winning feeling outdoors. The 21 year old British record holder had a lot to ponder, after finishing sixth in her home games in 2012, with the possibility of a new beginning with Dan Pfaff over the pond. Holly’s decision to join forces brought her firstly to Cardiff to train under the guidance of Scott Simpson, where she teamed up with Welsh pole vaulter Sally Peake. Having now attended two training camps in Phoenix at the World Athletic Center, she can reflect on her choice. ‘I’ve changed so much over the two camps I’ve done out in Arizona. I’ve worked harder than ever and worked a lot technically on vaulting and running. I’m stronger, faster and better conditioned than ever before. I’m hoping to follow up my successful indoors with the same outdoors.’ Said Holly about the her training at the World Athletics Center. Bleasdale has nothing but positive things to say about her new coach Dan Pfaff, and is looking to learn everyday from her new surroundings. Speaking of her new training environment alongside male training partners Steve Lewis, Steve Hooker and Brad Walker. She says ‘it really helps me being around (them) as I’m trying to model my vaulting to be more like a male vaulter’. ‘I’m much more confident in myself now and I have more knowledge about my event. Dan and Scott are always teaching me-which helps me grow as an athlete and competitor.’ Her impressive pole vault resume includes a jump of 4.87m-above and beyond most women in the world. To regain this top mark, however, will be no easy feat.  She hopes to see the improvements she’s made in training portrayed in her vault. The New York Diamond League will be Holly’s season opener. She also plans to compete in Oslo, Team Champs in Gateshead, and London and Birmingham Diamond Leagues.  more