Brian Wellman Helping Perinchief In Paris
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Brian Wellman believes Jah-Nhai Perinchief must focus on “one jump at a time” as he prepares for the triple jump qualifiers at the Stade de France at the Olympic Games in Paris on Wednesday [August 7].
Four-time Olympian Wellman, one of the island’s greatest athletes, has travelled to the French capital as part of Perinchief’s coaching team along with Travis Geopfert.
Perinchief has already been in Paris for 12 days, and Wellman said the 26-year-old has been working on staying healthy, physically sharp and mentally prepared.
Jah-Nhai Perinchief in Paris
“At this stage, there isn’t much you can do to get better, but there’s a whole lot of things you can do to screw it up,” Wellman told Bernews.
“The largest percentage [of competing] is in your head because your brain tells your body what to do.
“If you perceive things not to be right or perfect or start thinking something is missing, whatever the case may be, that could be catastrophic.
“The flip side is, if you think, ‘I’m Superman, can do anything and make it happen,’ you give yourself a chance for sure. It’s a confidence game.”
Wellman, who finished fifth in the triple jump at the Barcelona Games in 1992 and sixth at the Atlanta Games in 1996, said Perinchief’s naturally laidback personality is an advantage providing he turns up the intensity when he stares down the runway towards the sandpit for his opening jump.
“Before every event, there are some athletes who look nervous and some who look confident,” Wellman said “That’s the difference.
Brian Wellman and Jah-Nhai Perinchief at the USATF track meet in Bermuda
“Jah-Nhai is on an even keel; he doesn’t let too much fluster him. That’s a good thing, but we’ve also got to turn up the intensity and channel that inner aggression.”
Perinchief, who won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, will be up against world-class operators such as Jaydon Hibbert, of Jamaica, Pedro Pichardo, of Portugal, Spain’s Joran Diaz and Hughes Fabrice Zango, of Burkina Faso.
And Wellman, 56, believes Perinchief must produce his best form to ensure he reaches the final on Friday.
“You can’t win the final unless you’re in it,” Wellman said. “Even the best can’t overlook the qualifying.
“There are plenty of examples of medal contenders not making it out of the qualifying.
“He needs to go out there and be at his best, qualify for the final and go from there. You must focus on the jump in front of you.”
No stranger to life inside an Olympic Village, Wellman said it has been a joy to renew old acquaintances since arriving in Paris, with many of his former triple jump foes working as coaches for their respective nations.
“It’s funny, I’m sitting at the practice track, and I get to see former competitors of mine who are now coaches,” he added.
“These days, I’m just trying to pass on the information and knowledge; it’s pretty cool.”
LeiLanni Nesbeth interviewed Jah-Nhai Perinchief prior to the Olympics
Bernews will be providing comprehensive coverage of Bermuda’s athletes in the coming weeks.
- View the ‘Best Interview The Best’ series here
- View profiles of all ten athletes representing Bermuda here
- View our dedicated website Bermuda2024.com here
- View all our articles on the Bermuda 2024 Games here on Bernews
- View our ongoing live text/photo/video updates here
Jah-Nhai is in great hands. Not only was Brian and world class athlete and Olympiad but a great person as well.