British heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson has parted company with her coach Mike Holmes after an underwhelming Olympics performance, according to the Times.
Desite setting a new British high jump record of 1.98m, Johnson-Thompson finished 6th in this year’s Olympic heptathlon competition, due to disappointing visits in the shot putt and javelin.
The 23-year-old also suffered similar misfortune at last year’s IAAF World Championships, in which three fouls in the long jump all but ended her hopes of winning a medal.
Johnson-Thompson will therefore be seeking a coach who can help her paper over the cracks that have been highly costly during her last two major championships.
Toni Minichiello, who currently coaches Jessica Ennis-Hill, is believed to be the favourite to replace Holmes, after Ennis-Hill confirmed she would retire from athletics after the 2017 World Championships.
Minichiello has guided Ennis-Hill to numerous medals, including gold in the Olympics and World Championships, but currently has “had no contact from anyone,” according to the London Evening Standard.
However, with the 2017 World Championships fast approaching, Johnson-Thompson will surely be hoping to secure a coach of Minchiello’s calibre, in order to follow or even to fully achieve her heptathlon potential.
