Clifford commends Saunders for infinite camaraderie

The bond between an athlete and a coach is paramount to success. Paralympian Jaryd Clifford writes about how his relationship with coach Philo Saunders has transcended beyond what was already a revered dynamic. 

The moments preceding a major championship final are as intense as it gets in our sport. 

We warm up in an enclosed space, rubbing shoulders with the people that seek what we seek. We contend with the call room where a sense of claustrophobia threatens to unravel it all. Everyone fights to maintain their composure during these moments, but for some the pressure proves too much. Some people thrive and some people crumble. 

On the start line, the realisation that from that time forth, you and you alone can control the outcome of your performance is strikingly apparent. I’ve been navigating these overwhelming moments since the age of 16 and I can say with the greatest amount of certainty that my survival directly relates to the way my coach, Philo Saunders prepares me. 

His unwavering belief, his ability to crack a joke mere seconds before entering the call room, and importantly, his ability to make you feel as though he’d fight for you all day and beyond creates the perfect pre-race atmosphere. When I step out onto the track, I not only want to win for myself but for him. Philo is not only my coach, but he’s also my training partner, guide, and one of my best mates. You couldn’t ask for much more when preparing for a potentially lifechanging event. Without his presence, his expertise, his humour, and his infectious love for running, I would not be the athlete or person that I am today. 

Throughout my career, I have had three coaches and all of them have perfectly paved the way for my success on the international stage. At the Little Athletics level, Spiro Neofitou introduced me to the fundamentals of running in a manner that not only taught me much about hard work but also sparked my passion for running and the pursuit of the personal best. 

Most influentially, my next coach Max Balchin and his partner Lyn Davis of the Diamond Valley Athletic Club took me from young teenager to World Championship medallist and Paralympian. Training was always fun, genuinely without any exceptions. Our group fostered an infinite camaraderie that lasts to this day and all this due to the environment that they created. They are the reason for my love of running and every time I train at my beloved Willinda Park Track in Greensborough in their presence I know I am at home. 

It is the inherent positivity of these experiences that made me realise that choosing an elite coach that mirrored these traits was perhaps the most critical decision in my career. In Philo, I have found a bit of all of this: fun, camaraderie, a love for running, and a determination to work hard. All my coaches have played instrumental roles in my life, and frankly, will never cease too. Their lessons will remain with me for a lifetime.

I think the memory that elicits the most goosebumps from my time with Philo is that of standing on the start line of 5000m T13 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2019 and having him next to me as a guide. Never before have I felt so confident in my ability to execute a race plan. 

Having him there during those early laps allowed me more than ever to simply switch off and run. His presence and my absolute trust in his judgement set me up perfectly to win my second world title. To cross the line and embrace within seconds on the track will always be a special memory, as will standing on the podium later that night – not much will ever compare. 

By Jaryd Clifford
Posted: 17/12/2020