Loughnane has new coach

OLIVE LOUGHNANE has changed coaches and will now train under Stephan Platzer, husband of Norway’s Olympic silver medallist from Sydney, Kjersti Platzer.

Ireland’s world championship silver medallist from Berlin last year had been advised by Montse Pastor, widow of top walks coach Manuel Mayor in the lead up to last year’s world championships. She split with Pastor during a controversy after allegations packages had been sent to Pastor’s home by Walter Viru, the Peruvian doctor linked with a cycling doping scandal.

It is understood neither the IAAF nor the Spanish Federation have a file on the matter but Olive Loughnane said she just could not hang around until the matter was resolved.

“That whole business in Spain is not sorted and, to be brutal about the thing, I just cannot afford to hang around until it is. I have to be professional,” she said.

“I was only with Montse last year and her imput was technical and tactical. I did my 87:45 still working on my own.

“Guidance is the main thing I need and Stephan Platzer is going to provide it. He knows the women’s scene having coached his wife, Kjersti, up to last year when she retired.

“He is someone I know very well and he has a really good group. I am in Portugal at the moment and I will fly to Dusseldorf from here to join him at his training camp.”

Yesterday Loughnane joined other Irish international athletes at their warm weather training camp in Portugal.

“It’s great to be able to get out training on the road again – long sleeves but no snow,” she said. “I’m sick of the treadmill.

“I had a great year last year and I want to back it up now. It was great to win silver.

“Unlike other events the walks at the European championships in Barcelona next summer will be much the same as the Olympics or world championships without the Chinese or the Australians.

“I am looking forward to it. I will get in some training and I hope to have my first race here in Portugal in early April.”