James Turner is lauding the influence of coach Iryna Dvoskina after a raceday letter helped him win the 100m Paralympic final (T36) on top of his 400m crown.
Turner will return to Australia next week a double gold medallist after bursting out of the blocks at the Stade de France on Saturday to equal the Paralympic record with a time of 11.85secs.
Australia has won just three gold medals in athletics in Paris, with Turner providing two and long-jumper Vanessa Low adding the third.
Success in the 100m meant a lot to Turner, who has been stewing on his second-place finish from Tokyo for the last three years.
And he’s found that pre-race letters from Ukrainian coach Dvoskina have boosted his confidence.
Turner believes the letters have helped calm his nerves and ready him to hit the track fast.
“Redemption for me, but also vindication for my coach, Iryna… This is her 72nd major champs medal for Australia since 2003,” Turner said.
“She’s so wonderful, she dedicates her whole life to athletics.
“She sent me her usual letter (this morning). She said that I’ve done all the work, the track will suit me and she said she knows I can do it.”
Turner reckons he barely slept before his 400m win earlier this week but Dvoskina’s calming influence helped pave his path to glory.
Her steadying presence has helped Turner in his build-up to the Games where he has been worried about the after-effects of a bout of glandular fever.
Of his two races he argued the 100m and the need for a fast start had been impacted the most by his brush with illness.
“It was looking a bit doubtful there for a minute,” Turner said.
“But the key today was just following my own race plan, not thinking about what the other athletes are doing.
“I still work with a psychologist too, every athlete needs to. To run 400m, you have to be a bit crazy, so that mental work is crucial.
“Before the 400 final here I barely slept. I ran the race in my head 10, 15 times before I got going. But Iryna sat me down and told me how ready I was.”
Elsewhere, on Saturday Rheed McCracken clinched a bronze in the 800m (T34).
Source Agencies
