Former Olympic sprinter will train this IPL team
Kolkata Knight Riders will receive strength and conditioning tips from an Olympic sprinter. That is what you call thorough professionalism and esteem specialisation.
The KKR management has signed Olympic sprinter Chris Donaldson as the strength and conditioning coach for the Indian Premier League 2020.
Donaldson represented New Zealand in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, besides competing in the 1998 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. He was part of the 4x100m relay team that still holds the national record and post-retirement.
He had been associated with the Black Caps for eight years. Donaldson is helping the players to stay fit during the quarantine period with his special “bedroom-workout routine” tips through group video calls.
“I can’t ask the players to do what I can’t do, right? So while I can’t do the exercises as well as them, I certainly try to put in an effort,” KKR head coach Brendon McCullum said on their official website on Monday.
“I’ve also heard that the shirts this year – practice shirts and coach’s shirts – are going to be very, very tight. So, I need to make sure that I am not too fat as we get into the season,” the former New Zealand skipper quipped.
McCullum added he was enjoying every bit of his training. “The guys are now getting to know him. There have been some unbelievable workouts he has given every one to do. They are hard, and if you haven’t worked out for a while, you can’t do it.
“Sore bodies for a couple of days…But it’s amazing and very, very helpful for all the boys at this time of staying indoors.”
KKR bowling coach Kyle Mills had a similar view about Donaldson’s drills. “You spend a lot of time trying to catch him and you never will. He is an amazing person and he is an absolute professional. I think it’s going to be a big feather in our cap to have him on board.”
IPL 2020 will be played in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 19 to November 10.