SPEAKERS
Annons
Annons
Harry Marra
Harry Marra
Coaching career highlights
Harry Marra is widely regarded as one of the greatest track and field coaches of all time. With a career spanning over five decades, he is best known for guiding decathlon legend Ashton Eaton to two Olympic gold medals, multiple World Championship titles, and world records in both the decathlon and indoor heptathlon. He also coached Canadian star Brianne Theisen to World Championship medals and Commonwealth Games gold. In total, Marra has coached multiple athletes to over 8,000 points in the decathlon and helped develop champions across several events.
Throughout his career, Marra has combined scientific principles with an ability to simplify complex movement patterns, earning a reputation for innovation and clarity in coaching. He has held leadership positions at major institutions including the University of Oregon, San Francisco State, and Springfield College, and served as the U.S. National Decathlon Coach for a decade. Among numerous accolades, he has been named Nike Coach of the Year (USATF, 2012), World Athletics Coach of the Year (2016), and in 2024 was ranked the greatest track and field coach of all time by Sportsfoundation.org.
About the presentation
In his keynote presentation, Stories from the Passenger Seat – Lessons from a Lifetime of Coaching, Harry Marra will reflect on the philosophies, experiences, and pivotal moments that have shaped his unparalleled coaching journey. Drawing from his recent book and decades of elite-level coaching, Marra will share insights into athlete development, the art of coaching, and the human side of high performance.
About the practical session
Harry Marra’s practical session, Decathlon Technique: Simplicity, Rhythm and Precision, will showcase key technical drills and coaching cues that have proven effective at the highest level. With a focus on breaking down complex movements into teachable elements, this session will give coaches practical tools for enhancing performance through rhythm, feel, and event-specific fundamentals.
Petros Kyprianou
Petros Kyprianou
Coaching career highlights
Petros Kyprianou is one of the most successful and respected coaches in international athletics, with a career spanning over two decades and multiple continents. Originally from Cyprus, Kyprianou has coached at the highest collegiate and international levels, including serving as Head Coach at the University of Georgia, where his teams won two NCAA team titles and earned 12 podium finishes. He has guided athletes to 36 individual NCAA titles, 19 Olympic appearances, and multiple World and European Championship medals. He is currently the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at the University of Illinois. Kyprianou holds degrees in Sports Science and Biomechanics and has been recognised with numerous coaching awards, including three NCAA National Coach of the Year honours and a European Athletics Coaching Award.
About the presentation
In his theoretical presentation, All Systems Go: A Multidimensional Combined Events Technical Model, Petros Kyprianou will explore the integration of biomechanics, coaching philosophy, and event-specific strategy in the development of combined events athletes. Drawing from years of elite coaching experience, the session will offer insights into building a performance system that adapts to the athlete’s strengths, phase of development, and long-term potential.
About the practical session
The practical session, Maximizing Technical Efficiency with Key Drills & Strategies in the Combined Events, will focus on event-specific technical execution through simple yet effective drills. Kyprianou will demonstrate his approach to technical development, highlighting how focused repetition and tailored cues can improve performance across multiple events. This session is designed to give coaches actionable tools for improving efficiency and consistency in training.
Ronald Vetter
Ronald Vetter
Coaching career highlights
Ronald Vetter is the National Coach for Combined Events at the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation. Since transitioning from a throwing coach to combined events in 2005, he has coached numerous athletes to international success. His training philosophy emphasizes smart planning, athlete individuality, and long-term development. Under his guidance, eight athletes have earned 16 medals at European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games. Vetter is known for his practical, systematic approach and his ability to help both talented and moderately talented athletes reach elite levels through intelligent coaching and structured progression.
About the presentation
In his theoretical presentation, The Puzzle of Load, Planning and Progression, Ronald Vetter will explore the complexity of training planning in the combined events. The session will discuss how to manage the ever-changing needs of multi-event athletes across different development phases. Drawing from both science and coaching experience, Vetter will address how to navigate uncertainty and individual variation in the pursuit of high performance.
About the practical session
Vetter’s practical session will focus on javelin training for multi-event athletes, especially those with limited natural aptitude in the event. Based on his philosophy of simplicity and consistency, he will present a streamlined approach: a limited number of well-chosen exercises, repeated regularly, with minimal instructions and a weekly time allocation of 30–60 minutes. Coaches will gain insights into how to build confidence and competence in technically demanding events through a patient, focused methodology.
Fernando Oliva
Fernando Oliva
Coaching career highlights
Fernando Oliva is a Belgian high‑performance coach specialising in combined events and jumps. With a Master of Physical Education from the University of Granada and VUB Brussels, he has served since 2012 as Quality Manager & Coach for combined events within Atletiek Vlaanderen and BLOSO. Recognised as Coach of the Year in Belgium, his coaching philosophy emphasises movement quality: "To improve, the secret is: 'there are no secrets'." He advocates improving both effectiveness and efficiency of movement through careful diagnostics and incremental change.
Oliva also plays a key role in Team Belgium’s Olympic preparations, contributing to safeguarding, positive coaching, and athlete well‑being discussions. His athletes benefit from his systematised and human‑centred approach, blending scientifically‑informed quality management with athlete empowerment.
About the presentation
In his theoretical presentation, Movement Quality & Athlete Agency: A Belgian Combined Events Model, Fernando Oliva will outline his coaching framework built around movement diagnostics, judicious intervention, and athlete autonomy. From his Belgian national-level leadership role, he brings insights into creating coaching environments that balance discipline, courage, and sustainable progression.
About the practical session
Fernando’s practical session, Efficiency in Practice: Coaching Drills for Combined Events & Jumps, will offer select drills focused on movement quality and coordination. Coaches will explore how concise, targeted intervention can help athletes refine technical patterns, improve decision-making, and independently manage their own execution—fundamental principles that underlie his belief that athletes must sometimes own the experience before being coached after