Vesteinn edit
Fri, Aug 25, 2023 2:12PM • 34:47
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
athletes, coach, discus throw, discus, good, people, championships, issue, iceland, estonia, biggest, win, years, olympics, sweden, competing, throw, relation, olympic games, feel
SPEAKERS
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson, Paul Barnett
Paul Barnett 00:00
So bashed in hushed. Heinsohn. Over got that correct. Good afternoon, and welcome to the great coaches podcast.
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 00:07
Thank you very much
Paul Barnett 00:09
first Icelandic person we've had on the podcast. So very much looking forward to hearing a different perspective perhaps on on coaching and leadership. But vesting, can I start with something? Probably just a little simple question. Really? Where are you in the world? And what have you been doing so far? Today?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 00:26
I live in Vet Corps in Sweden. And that's in the south of Sweden. And I was coaching this morning, I had three sessions with three athletes. And so that's what I've been doing. And then I had lunch. And now it's three o'clock, and I have another session in a couple of hours. Well,
Paul Barnett 00:52
thank you for speaking to us on your break before you start up again. Question I, in researching you, I can see that you've been to countless the Olympics and World and European Championships. In fact, one article I read said, You've been to 55 international championship events as either an athlete or a coach. So I imagine you've seen some good coaches, and perhaps some not so good ones up close. But I'm wondering what this experience has taught you about what the great coaches do differently, that sets them apart?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 01:28
Well, to begin with, I respect all cultures, they all do their best probably. But of course, like you say there are world class coaches that are called like serial winning coaches may be that that get very good results during a very long time. And what kind of what kind of differs in those coaches is that they, during championships, when you see them, they are very calm. And they have put up a strategy before the championships, and they coach much less than the less experienced coaches. So I would say everything is more simple. And they keep their feet on the ground and have a pre planned strategy that makes them get their goals during championships. That is pretty much like what I can say about that. You have a plan, you have a structure, you do it, and you believe in it, and you're calm, and you call it soulless.[PB1]
How the great coaches are clam, they have a strategy and they keep their feet on the ground.
Paul Barnett 02:51
When I read interviews with you or I read some of your blogs, you talk a lot about happiness and calmness, what have you learned about the role that these two emotions can play when you're preparing for something like the Olympics or a world championship?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 03:09
I believe I believe in what I call the happy camper. People that have have a happy life usually performed better if you're just a happy person. And I've done a lot of lectures about that. So I always look at the social issue and the mental issue of the athletes and try to have that in balance. Everybody can technically and physically be in shape when it comes to going to a championship. But it's always a social and mental that plays the biggest part to feel good to have a good life that that brings you cannot to being calm. It's very important to be calm as a coach. And it's also very important for athletes to be calm. And that's very hard to do if you're not happy. The cooperation between the coach and athlete has to be built on trust and calmness and that means that both parties are in balance and feel happy together in what they do. Off the field and on on the field.[PB2] [PB3]
The importance of happiness and calmness and how he helps his athletes find this so that they can perform at their best.
Paul Barnett 04:36
Christian when I was preparing for today, I watched video of your athletes perform and watch Discus Throwers and some shot putters as well. And what really struck me was the athletes seem to have this balance between high intensity in a small space. They're very very focused at the same time. But they also have They also look almost like dancers, they have this great rhythm and flexibility. But of course, they're not smiling. And I'm wondering, if we just focus on the discus for a minute, could you describe what the perfect performance would look like?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 05:19
So did was kind of funny that you said that they almost looked like a dancer without a smile. I really liked that. Because that is pretty much the way I think. I think those 300 to 400 pound guys are between 130 on 160 kilos. They are supposed to be like dancers in the in the circle, because if you think about the discus throw, it's all about rhythm and speed. And you have a second one second to do it. The discus from the swing until you release it travels around your body, nine meters when you're turning this one and a half turn that you do that is like 30 feet, you're supposed to throw it with a 38.5 degrees ankle. And it got goes as far as fast as 20 meters per segment that the release speed that is approximately 95 kilometres an hour. maximum leverage separation of speed is done in a smooth, relaxed way more or less without a thought. Just automatic, as a machine almost or a robot is that may be the perfect performance. Yeah, when it comes to a discus throw, that is the P must like perfect performance, because that's the question Could you describe the perfect performance of a horse, but then, maybe not in numbers, it's more about like, like all our all sports physical speed and smoothness or rhythm with technique and mental inspirational or intensity bomb together in a period of one second. That is pretty much how discus throwing is.[PB4]
The role that speed and rhythm play in his training. And how describes how this must come together in the 1 second when someone throws a discuss.
Paul Barnett 07:13
When you were reflecting on the success of three of your athletes in Tokyo, Daniel, Fanny and Simon, you, you made an observation that I thought was very interesting, you said, All each of them had to do was have a normal day in order to win. Now the prospect of having a normal day. And achieving something special, like an Olympic medal is not something you might expect to hear. So I was wondering if you could tell us why a focus on just having a normal day was so important.
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 07:51
It can reflect to what we were talking about earlier about the social and mental issues. When you go to the Olympic Games or World Championships, European Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, wherever you're competing, it's a biggest competition you can participate in. And the Olympics are the biggest. And I learned before the 2008 Olympics I had a guy that worked very closely with me and get cancelled at one the Olympic gold in 2008 Olympics and in Tokyo in in the team and my cooperate the guy role represented from Estonia came to me that night night before the competition, I said we're gonna go out and eat and celebrate. We're gonna celebrate the win before the day before that, why? Then he had came up with an idea that was get cantor. He is prime time eight in relation to historic history and statistics. And he only needs to throw his top 10 favorites to win tomorrow. His biggest competitors was one guy from Lithuania. vegging His elect now he was one year too old. Although there are two others from Poland, Mala kowski and Robert Hardy from Germany that one year on two year two young on their top 10 hours was not good. And I asked her I will What gets top 10 average because I was not into that at that time. 68 ad mudras he needs to throw to win tomorrow for sure. And I believed him in him and then get one and he threw 6882 And then when we were at the doping test after the meat in a basement somewhere, I asked Garrett How was his throat 6882 And he said average that said Big or like an pretty good explanation on what I go for. Because discus rowing is an aerodynamic event. History says that usually in Big championships this Cruiser was to not throw PVS. It's much easier to run 100 meters 110 hurdles, long jump or even long distance running, because you're competing against all this at the same time. But when you're throwing, it's a very technical event, like I explained before, it's 95 kilometres an hour different trails around your nine meters, it's very easy to to miss a little thing that hurts you very much. As well as you throw further, if there is good windy conditions.
And when I went to the Tokyo Olympics, with Simon Pettis on funny rose and Daniel store, I had a goal that they would throw their top 10 average on I build it on history on I build it on statistics within the throwing events. They all performed between 99.47 or 99, point 83% of their top 10 favorites. And they all reach their goals. And we came home with gold and silver in the discus roll with that philosophy, and why aren't they performing up to 100%, because nothing really within those events says that you're going to do it, then I would be very underdeveloped coach, if I would go there. And dream of doing something more than history and statistics of all throws in the world says how it's going to be. That's the reason this works. And I've always thought it like that. And it's because it's hard to go to a championships. And it's mostly hard mentally, to keep the pressure when you have to turn around yourself in one second with a plate in your hand and hit that perfect, perfect roll. It's very, very hard to do. And history says if you throw your top 10 Average, and if you're that good that your top 10 habits can be a winning throw. That's the only thing you need to do. And that's what I call to to focus on a normal day.[PB5]
The story he tells about celebrating an Olympic victory before the event. And why Olympic medals are won by having a normal day in throwing events.
Paul Barnett 12:37
In the lead up to the Olympics, I've heard you say that you tried to coach your athletes as little as possible. Why is that?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 12:47
Like I told you an earlier answer about the top coaches in the world. I'm considered one of those in the in the discus throw for man. And 12 weeks before we go to the Olympics, or World Championships, it's already decided what we're going to think about the brain,
the human brain can only think about one thing. When you turn around in addition to the circle, in one second, you cannot have two things in your mind. We have science that kind of supports that with studies and, and 12 weeks before because of adaptation variation principle of of training, it takes some weeks to adapt to do some something, then we decide what to think about 12 weeks before then we keep that plan. Or when we come into the Olympics or World Championships, you just follow that plan. And then my work in meats or championships is the easiest to work in the world. Because they just hold the athletes in the hand in relation to motivation, inspiration, support, etc. But I keep myself to this one thing of thinking that we have been doing for the last 12 weeks because we need to adapt to it. And then we need to do it during the games under pressure. That's hard to do this more simple it is and the more calm I am and that I don't kind of drift away and stuff, talk about some other stuff. Then I can pretty much guarantee that the athletes are gonna perform because they have one maybe technical issue in their head. They have one second to do it. They have one minute to prepare, and they go in there only with thinking about this one thing I keep myself to close them on this one thing. And because of that, I coach very little on almost nothing. And so in that way, my job is done in training during the whole year. Then when it comes to competing, we're just testing if it works, and the more simple it is, the better we do.[PB6]
How he steps back from coaching his atletes 12 weeeks prior to an event so that they can be focused on what they have already established.
Paul Barnett 15:27
So, one minute to prepare one second in the circle, in yet, I've heard you talk about it, the fact that it takes eight years to be a world champion. And this breaks down to 70 training camps, 200 meats, and 4000 training sessions, the dedication to achieve this must be tremendous. And I'm wondering, how do you help your athletes balance the commitment needed to achieve this without leading them to burnout?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 16:04
This cooperation and when an athlete comes to me and out of those 57 athletes from 10 countries that I've coach, I've only recruited one. All the others to contact either through telephone or email or wherever they have contacted me and asked them to be their coach. I do a little background study on them before I say yes. And then I say, if I say yes, I say yes. And I tell them, are you willing to be with me? For eight to 10 years? Are you willing to do the 10,000 hours? Are you willing to do the 100,000 throws at this need to reach the top. And if they are, then we go, we go together? And we believe in the system. And I'm the boss. I'm a nice guy. But I'm very, very clear on what I want. And I know what they need to do. And if they don't buy into that, then I tell them, Okay, that's fine. Just remember to invite me to your wedding anyway. And that means you're going to be friends, no matter what. If we work on that for a year doesn't work. I feel that he's not doing what it needed. Or the athletes feels that this is too tough, no hard feelings. But I listen to them. And they don't burn out because they know what they're going into. They, they buy into it, they pretty much buy into the system. And I feel them out I feel what kind of personalities are these people. And, and I learn to to work with them, and they learn to work with me. And those that buy into it. They go to the top. So we have a very little issues of burnouts or not being committed or inspired or motivated to continue. But there's one rule I cannot go harder on athletes athletes has to go with me during those eight to 10 years. I cannot go harder. They cannot go hard. We have to do this together on bond. And if we do, it's a really really winning cist.
How he lays out the path to an Olympic medal requiring 70 training campes, 200 meets and 4000 training sessions.
Paul Barnett 18:39
Best in, you competed against you actually beat the famous Olympian, our otter twice the American discus thrower. Did he influence your coaching in any way?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 18:55
No, not really. But he I have a very special relationship with Him. Alo after one four Olympic Games son with Carl Lewis. I think that those two are the ones that have won four Olympic medals in the same event. Carlo is in long chip unhorsed in the district, so is that one of the biggest discursos that ever lived? I was very happy that I got that to be able to compete against him as one he was when he made his comeback and happens to be that that paid him that's not the big issue. The big issue is he among others. Mike Wilkins from America John Powell from America wolf Ken Smith from America you can shoot from his Germany. Wolf come from East Germany also saw those guys along with American throws like alerter affected me very much. So I'm a product of if we take the positive stuff about East Germany, the system how the system was, and if we keep the drugs away, it was a very organized system. And I read two books about the system. And I really got to love the system on and got to know Wolfgang Smith and you can shoot and then work with my quiz gets on John Powell. So I'm a product of, of a combination of very good systems. It's like East German, organized system, along with the USA, Free Spirits just because I always want to America and school in America, and I love America. And we have been going to San Diego and training camps with my top athletes for 15 years. On on, then I'm a law Big Country guy. I am from Iceland, and I live in Sweden. So this combination of this systematic stuff from Eastern Germany, three spirit of USA, and then there's some kind of common sense way of thinking from the north country, I think it's a good combination. And I've been extremely inspired from those people. And the biggest thing that on Earth dawned on me was that after his career, he started to paint. And I actually contacted him and asked him if he could pay to abstract discuss pictures for me, and they are hanging on my wall here. And so I have had a very good, a very special relationship with our Earth. I'm very proud of it that I have two of his paintings hanging on my wall here after his after his day.
Paul Barnett 22:00
Well, we'll have to have to show me them after we finished the interview. I'd love to see them. Best in you've mentioned it earlier, you've coached athletes from all over the world. I mean, I could find Iceland, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, the United States, Great Britain, and I'm sure there's many, many others. What does this taught you about the style and type of communication you need to use with elite athletes.
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 22:27
It has actually taught me a lot. 10 countries like you, you mentioned. Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Egypt, Canada, USA, Great Britain, Bosnian men, women, different culture, different language, different, different religions, different race, as broadened my way of view very much. I really believe in multi culture or society. And I'm really been able to get to know a lot of different way of being. So how about respect, no matter what support of each other. We are a team, we gather we are individuals. And we get better. As we are in a group. We solve all problems directly. We put everything up on the table. I feel athletes out. If I feel there's a problem, we fix it right away. And if you get to be Peyton, you accept to be beaten by your training partner. You not if you have to settle for a silver, then it's okay that your training partner on whatever country it is, can beat you. That's how we can work with those people together. And I'm very proud that I've been able to work with all those athletes from all those counties that has given me extremely much in my life.[PB7]
How coaching athletes from all over the world has taught him about the importance of dealing with problems directly, but also respecting the competitive benefits of your team mates.
Paul Barnett 24:13
Test first in drugs is an issue in athletics. It's a topic that will probably always be discussed. And I know that in the distant past, you had your own issues with this, and I don't really want to go over that. But I'd rather ask you now. How do you deal with ethical challenges when they come up?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 24:37
I'm very much straightforward on I believe in, like I told you earlier there. In the last question about putting everything on the table. There are challenges in a group like this because we are coming from different societies and stuff. I'm very, very clear on my view in relation to rules and regulation. patients, I think I'm very fair, I don't allow drugs, I don't allow alcohol, I don't allow smoking. I'm not interested, we have had some issues with with different things, I always do a very much check up on my athletes before I get them to count to check out their history, in relation to this, we have had some some issues, we have fixed all the issues with communication, respect and support. And, and, and I just want the class act behavior. I want to be a class act. And I want the athletes to be Class Act, we are owned by the society, we are known people, they are superstars. They are role models, they have a huge responsibility to act as role models and acts act as a class act. within the group, there can come up different problems, and ethical behavior problems. And and I'm just very, very honest, when it when it comes to this that I respect everybody, everybody respects me, we are a team. If there is a problem, we'll fix it right away. And we have to think about that we are responsible as athletes to be a good role model and show a class.
Paul Barnett 26:41
I've heard you talk about the idea of prehab instead of rehab sounds like an idea that all of us could apply to our lives. How does it work?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 26:55
It works. Like I think a lot of athletes use it as a excuse that they are hurt. But why are they hurt? Very often. Injuries mostly happens because of bad planning. Or off the courts, the planning is wrong, the intensity is too high or the volume is too much. So it's a bad planning that makes an injury or very often, maybe a bad decision that I could even say a stupidity of that, that they don't following the training program that is already written out. So you hurt yourself. And in relation to avoiding this, I'm very much very little for rehab, I much rather talk about prehab avoid to get into very often, injuries happens because of what I told before bad planning and stupidity. It's very seldom it happens because of some unlucky but it can. So rehab is about following a training plan 100 person making a training plan that is in relation to the athlete done in a right way where the coach is putting a lot of effort into hitting it right when it comes to volume and intensity regulation. And the athletes follow it and the coach makes sure that athletes follow it 100% Not 99% 100% And that means that you have to in that training program, you have to take care of booking my SOS booking chiropractic doctors to to look to get a health control etc. Talk to your psychologist or a mental coach. You cannot skip the because this is a part of the training pool. And that means that we prehab is about taking care of the body with the people that work with you the massage therapist, the psychologist, the chiropractor, the doctor, the physiotherapist, the nutritionist, take care of business and if you follow that, and you use me as a coach on the expert team around you to take care of your body and you have your own responsibility as an athlete to to follow that and do that. You don't hurt yourself. And the best example of that is get can't do that I had for 12 years he actually never hurt himself was the biggest that talent that I've ever had? No. What do the biggest physical or mental prospect know? He never got hurt. He never got a break, you could follow the program 100% And then he won. And it took him 10 years.
Paul Barnett 30:28
Fish 10 Just one final question if I could. And before I ask it, I'd like to phrase it with a quote, and it comes from you. And you say, we are getting money for throwing a plate. People get crazy about that. And it seems kind of stupid. But it is a symbol of making people feel good. Sports results are the easiest way to make a group of people, a whole nation feel good for a short period of time. And that's what we accomplished. It's a great quote. And it made me wonder, actually, when I was reading it, what is the legacy that you would actually like to leave? As a coach?
Vesteinn Hafsteinsson 31:10
Yeah, I usually finish up my lectures around the world with this question, what's the meaning of all this? i My philosophy is this one, we are actually making a whole nation or a whole city or a whole whole village, say or whatever the group is happy. And that is actually very important. But if you isolate discus throwing that maybe 3030 year old 400 pound guy is throwing a plate out in the air and you're isolated from everything, then that is kind of idiotic thing to do. It's pretty much like you would look at my face, where I will look at your face and you will only look at the nose and there is no connection to anything else, then the noses cannot be. But if you look at the nose, in cooperation with face, then we look okay. And that is the same thing. And then I started sometimes to wonder what how can I be working with this full time when I when I compared to my child friends in Iceland itself was Iceland, two of my best friends. The one is a medical doctor and the other one employs 250 people. And I'm just to discuss cause what's the meaning of all this? Then I actually felt pretty good that the meaning of it was this one that we we made a difference. We made a difference to millions of people around the world when Gert Cantor won the Olympic gold, the Estonia nation was following it with like probably 60 to 70% of the nation's women following it. On Life TV on May 8, this young nation that has been hurt for very many years, feel very, very good about a symbolic dish bistro that made them feel very good and out for Estonia. And I really got to know this. Yes, last year also, when we came home with a golden silver from the Olympic Games, I've never ever experienced anything like and not only in Sweden. Also in Iceland, when we went this summer to Iceland, to my hometown, and those are kind of homecoming for me. And the President came there are ministers and politicians and a lot of people to mostly celebrate me, it was just amazing. How much discus throw can make people happy. And my legacy is, I want to make a difference, and have felt or made a difference mostly in Iceland, Estonia, Denmark and Sweden where I've been very successful. So, but it's all it's not about prices, and not about titles or medals. It's about when you get the phone call from a former athlete 10 years after they're done. And they say thank you. That is pretty much the name of the game for me
Paul Barnett 34:27
beston it's been fantastic spending an hour with you I have loved every minute of it's such a unique insight into excellence at an individual level and the relationship between that individual and the coach. So thank you very much for your time today. Thank you