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Dafne Schippers chooses new trainer Wigert Thunnissen | Sport

The two-time world champion in the 200 meters will train with another experienced coach, Wigert Thunnissen to get fit again. Thunnissen confirms the collaboration. “Over the next six months we will see if we can get Dafne match fit again. For the time being, she mainly does this in the field of strength training, and after a while we will integrate running again.” Thunnissen has been a sprint and hurdles trainer for many years and was also the national team coach in the 4×100 meter relay, with which he achieved success, including a bronze medal at the World Championships in Athletics in Paris in 2003 with the men’s relay.

Bennema: ‘Best solution for everyone’

Bart Bennema, with whom Schippers previously trained from 2008 to 2016 and again from the end of 2018 until last summer, notes that ‘it just didn’t work out’. “There was always something. Dafne’s back really played a big part. We’ve restarted it several times, but it didn’t work, and I think it really did something to the confidence and motivation. The funny thing was that there were times when things seemed to be going well. After a while of trying it was done. It has been another year longer because of corona anyway. I think this is the best solution for everyone.” After 2016, Schippers is now saying goodbye to Bennema for the second time, under whom she experienced her greatest successes, including the phenomenal 200 meters during the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing in 21.63, still good for one of the best times ever at this event worldwide. distance.

Van Commenee: ‘Didn’t get Dafne to talk’

Head coach Charles van Commenee of the Athletics Union indicates that Schippers will remain a member of the selection of the Athletics Union. “Dafne will continue to use the services of the broad staff.” He also explains the choice for Thunnissen. ,,We have tried with the entire staff to get Dafne up and running again after the period with Rana Reider, but unfortunately without the desired success. Options were discussed with Dafne to see whether an approach that had not been tried before would work. For the time being, the combination of the Arnhem strength sports center We Lift and Wigert has emerged. We hope, of course, that the new approach will catch on so that we will see the old Dafne again.”

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