T. NashipaeChampions playbook: Celebrated athletics coach Patrick Sang shares winning formula
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 07.02.24. | 16:36
As a former elite athlete himself, the tactician is a particularly sympathetic mentor who is aware of the hardships associated with achieving greatness
"100 percent of me is nothing compared to 1 percent of the whole team"—Eliud Kipchoge
If there is a quote that epitomizes the ethos of former world marathon record-holder Kipchoge, then this is it.
At its heart is an unshakeable belief in the importance of the team and an acknowledgment of the crucial role others have played in his success.
The team includes World 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon and Geoffrey Kamworor, among other notable names, who all train at the Global Sports Communication training camp on the edge of the small town of Kaptagat.
They are under the tutelage of celebrated coach Patrick Sang. The tactician has swiftly risen to become one of the country's most celebrated coaches, guiding his charges to considerable global success.
His accolades read like a book, but most notably, he coached Kipchoge to be the first human to ever run a marathon in sub-two during the INEOS 1:59 challenge, led Kipyegon to break three world records in 2023, and was the force behind Kamworor’s double victory at the New York Marathon.
But what is the secret behind his coaching mastery?
As a former elite athlete himself, the tactician is a particularly sympathetic mentor who is aware of the hardships associated with achieving greatness.
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Unknown to many, Sang was one of the best steeplechasers in the world, winning world and Olympic medals in the early 1990s.
But his achievements as a coach have already far outweighed his on-track accolades. He was a self-coached athlete.
When he retired from his glorious career, Sang did a World Athletics coaching course at a regional center in Kenya, setting him up for an amazing career.
He further expressed his belief that becoming a successful coach demanded more than just technical expertise.
He noted that it demanded an all-round approach to his personal development, striving to be the best version of himself in every aspect of his life.
"I believe that to truly inspire and lead others, one must first lead oneself. My goal is not only to mold the athletes but also to be a role model for them in how I approach challenges, exhibit discipline, and maintain a positive outlook. If I drink all night and turn up for training in the morning, how will they view me?" he posed.
Sang went on to explain that beyond just physical training, he makes an effort to develop his athletes' character and mental toughness. The whole idea, according to the tactician, is to make these athletes all-around people.
In the recent past, clips of Kipchoge and Kamworor making chapatis in the camp emerged online. That was the tip of the iceberg of what the coach was trying to make out of the athletes.
"You don’t want to make an athlete who is great at running, but then when it comes to social skills, they look like they are out of touch with real society," he elaborated.
The tactician firmly believes that within every child lies the raw potential to be a natural runner, and mentors and coaches have to nurture, guide, and refine that raw talent into something extraordinary.
"Children are natural runners. What they need to do is continue that childlike play, and in the process, they develop motor skills that can make them good runners later on," he told Mozzart Sport.
His charges have constantly expressed their appreciation and admiration for him every time they break world records.
"I have a lot to thank him for. He has done so much to steer me to the heights that I didn't expect to reach in my career. We've come a long way together, and I must applaud him for believing in me and trusting in my abilities to succeed. I owe my success to him," Kipyegon said in a past interview.
"I'm really happy to present the EK collection to my coach and mentor, Patrick Sang. Patrick has played a pivotal role throughout my entire career; his influence on me has been immense. Thank you, Patrick," Kipchoge posted on his X account.
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