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Catching up with collegiate record holder Kibwé Johnson

Published by
Martin Bingisser   Feb 8th 2010, 7:44pm
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Kibwe JohnsonBack in 2007, Kibwé Johnson had one of the most impressive seasons ever by a collegiate thrower. He started off the indoor season by becoming the first collegiate thrower to break 25 meters. His best throw of 25.08m ranked third all-time in the world and set a new collegiate record for all divisions. During the outdoor season, Johnson won the Division II title and then continued his success by placing second at the Pan American Games and representing America in the IAAF World Championships. After the Olympic Trials in 2008, Johnson and his fiancée, former Canadian record holder and champion Crystal Smith, decided to relocate from Ashland, Ohio to Kamloops, British Columbia, where CollegeHammer.com editor Martin Bingisser also trains. CollegeHammer.com had a chance to catch up with Johnson after a year of adjusting to the new training center and coach.

CollegeHammer.com: You moved to Kamloops after the Olympic Trials to train under Anatoli Bondarchuk. What made you decide to move after all the success you'd had at Ashland?

Kibwé Johnson: Well, I was actually in the process of writing a blog about this very topic! So tell me? What would you do if you were extended an invitation to study under who is arguable the greatest mind in the world in your chosen field? Would you do it? Would you knowingly live without? Would you move to a different country entirely to learn? Would you do so even though you knew it would be hard? Well, I answered yes. [Editor's note: my answer was also yes]. Lots of athletes move for the same reasons, and they can attest to what we went [are still] going through.

As some of you know, I used to throw the discus as well. I decided going into the last Olympic year that I should pick one discipline. I chose the hammer because I 'knew' I could make the team. I heeded the advise of no less than four of the greatest competitors in our sports history. They ALL insisted that to truly be great, I must pick one or the other.

I have been ranked first or second on the U.S. performance list for the majority of the last four years (last year not included). Yet with all of the 75-meter throws to my credit, where was my breakthrough? Where were the "A" standard throws that I had thrown in training? For four years I ended the season with a season best between 75-76 meters. But in each of these years, my training bests were getting better. So wasn't my meet best? I had never at any time thought my hammer technique was 'good'. I struggled with my technique in competition. (This was much easier to control in the weight throw though). I knew what needed to be done. It just hadn't been actualized yet. Nothing like Dr. Bondarchuk yelling 'NO!', 59,643 times a week to get the ball rolling on changing my technique.

Back to Olympic Trials, I barely squeaked into Finals where I eventually fouled out. I was completely devastated. I was ready to earn my ticket to Beijing. Jud had my body ready. My head was strong. Body felt weird and I couldn't control anything. I was doing the same peaking program designed by Jud that produced two Championship 25m weight throws and a 2nd place at USA Outdoor Championships the year prior. I was ready. Apparently, what I was ready for was a whole lot of nothin'!

Before I left Eugene, I made my mind up. I became more cognizant of my motivations and expectations. I was a new athlete. What good is disappointment if it doesn't make you better? I want to be the best. I will work for it. I had to think bigger, broader goals. No longer will I be satisfied with "placing high at USA Nationals". This is not good enough. Placing high and earning the right to represent my country, is quickly followed by the real meat of my desire: International rankings and medals. That's where I'm at.

CollegeHammer.com: Obviously last year was a bit of a transition year. Your results were down in both the weight throw and hammer throw. What were the biggest things you worked in improving? What was the hardest adjustment?

KJ: I literally had to deconstruct everything I have ever done with a hammer in my hands. This was a big risk, but I knew it was necessary. This is absolutely the start of my second athletic life. Dr. B told me it would take a year to adjust to his training volume. I'm thinking, "Cool, but I'll still throw a PB." HA! My body was so battered by the change in volume that at times last spring, I could barely throw 60-meters with a 16-pound hammer (which is so awesome to think about now). Early last year, Dr. B had me on a 5 day on, 1 day rest routine for 4 weeks. This is twice a day. Not fun. My nervous system finally crashed the week leading into the Mt. Sac Relays. Lucky me! That day in Arizona, I think my best 16# was just a shade less than 59 meters! I mean I'm giving it my all! I almost never threw under 64.50m for the last 3 years! That changed real quickly upon training here. You guys know when you show up to training and you're throwing meters less than you did yesterday, or last week? That's your nervous system saying "nope, not today buddy!" This is what makes Bizzle special. Once he breaks it down, he knows when it will be down or up and can manipulate it. My body didn't eventually come around until a few weeks before outdoor nationals in 2009 and from then on, every program he has written has been better than the last. He also said that throwing the weight last year would delay my progress by 2-3 months. Surprise! He was right again. Thus, no more weight throw. Do I miss it? Nope. But I don't regret it either. I am super happy about my place in history with the implement. Only three men over 25m is something I am very proud of. However, it is almost certain that I will give Lance's record a run a few years down the line. Don't tell anyone... :-)

CollegeHammer.com: Are there things you miss about Ashland? Or America?

KJ: I miss so many things about Ashland. It was just a great overall environment. Friends, coaches, camaraderie were all outstanding aspects of our time spent there and was the reason why it was such a tough choice to decide to move on. You really can't beat the experience of a great college group in the weight room cheering you on for that big lift. It's awesome. So in short, basically I miss everything. I love those guys! But I'm happy about where I am now, and where I'm heading in the future.

What do I miss about the States? Lets see: price of gas (almost $4/gal), cell phone plans, alcohol prices, cheese, milk, pizza, rent, Chipolte, In-n-Out, oh, and just general cost of living. All this for the insanity of throwing a hammer far...

CollegeHammer.com: I've heard training has been going well. Actually I've seen that training is going well. What's clicking this year? What are your expectations for the season?

KJ: Training has been going very well. It's almost an uneasy feeling for me lately because it has continually been getting better since USA outdoors last year with no lag. I have always been my own worst critic. Before, when I watched video of my training sessions sometimes I would pause it to see if I liked the still picture. Most of the time I didn't. Freezing my practices now has put a smile on my face. He has just really blitzed my entry. It sucked. It sets up the entire throw. I'm to the point now where the feeling of the throw is completely different if it's not on.

My expectations are to throw "A" standard this season. I'm really not sure ultimately what I can throw this season. Dr. B said I will throw very well. But what does that mean exactly? Standard, 80m, just better than last season? Haha, well not the latter thank goodness! I can beat my season best from last year with almost all of my heavy hammers right now. All I can do is continue to grow and listen to my coach. Distances will come.

CollegeHammer.com: You're getting married soon. How are plans coming along for that?

KJ: Yep, our big day is October 23, 2010 in Crystal's hometown Creston, BC. Plans are coming along nicely. A big part of what we wanted to accomplish was a wedding website which we finished. We also finalized our wedding party and we'll probably be sending formal invitations in March sometime.

CollegeHammer.com: You and Crystal just launched a webpage: www.turntheright.com. What are your goals for the site?

KJ: We hope our webpage can shed some insight on us as athletes and our training group and Coach. We know people have tons of questions as we did before making this transition and we want to be a part of an improving hammer culture. We will have updates, pictures, and video. Basically anything we can conjure up that is either funny or relevant.

CollegeHammer.com: Anything else you'd like to add?

KJ: I couldn't do this without my track club, NYAC, my friends, family, current, and former coaches alike. Everyone has played such a major role and without them, my track career probably would have ended in 2001. Alas, it did not! Thanks for reading! If anyone has questions for me, you know the drill.


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