Latest news with #JakeWightman
Reuters
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Briton Wightman says he will no longer be coached by father
NEW YORK, March 5 (Reuters) - British middle-distance runner Jake Wightman will no longer be coached by his father, the 2022 1,500 metres world champion said on Wednesday, offering thanks for the "years of selfless time". A long-time sports commentator, Geoff Wightman famously called Jake's stunning upset win at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, announcing to fans: "That's my son and he's world champion." The younger Wightman said that his father helped him grow from a schoolboy runner to a top contender, but that they "physically and mentally" needed to go their separate ways. "By doing this we ensure there's plenty more to come in the future, not as a coach/athlete but as a father/son, away from the intensity and stress of training and racing," he wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Wightman (@jakeswightman) Wightman was unable to defend his 1,500m world title in 2023 due to a foot injury and last year was forced to withdraw from the Paris Games due to a hamstring injury. "Thank you Dad for all the years of selfless time and money," said Wightman. "I hope we can both look back on what we achieved together with immense pride."
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dad stops coaching former world champion Wightman
Jake Wightman will no longer be coached by his father Geoff, the former 1500m world champion has father-son duo shared the experience together when Jake won gold on the track in 2022 and Geoff was commentating on the race as the stadium Jake has had long periods out with injury since then, including missing the 2023 season and the 2024 Paris Olympics."The point has come in my career where both physically and mentally we both need to go our separate ways," Jake Wightman said on Instagram."By doing this we ensure there's plenty more to come in the future, not as a coach/athlete but as a father/son, away from the intensity and stress of training and racing."Coaches don't get the gratitude they deserve at the best of times, but even less so when it began driving down to races across the country as a kid, to flying across the world together, all in pursuit of helping me live out my dream."So this is to say thank you Dad for all the years of selfless time and money."I hope we can both look back on what we achieved together with immense pride."
