World and Olympic shot put champion, Valerie Vili, appoints a new coach...

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World and Olympic shot put champion Valerie Vili's quest for a new coach is over.


Vili, who recently ended her 11-year relationship with former coach Kristen Hellier, has secured the services of a internationally experienced throwing coach based on Auckland's North Shore.



Former French national coach Didier Poppe, will now provide Vili with technical coaching.



Poppe is a javelin champion, who as a coach has guided several athletes at Olympic Games and world championships.



Vili has worked with Poppe before, and he has also trained Vili's discus thrower husband Bertrand.



Poppe is one of seven professional coaches employed by NorthSport Academy who train athletes at Sovereign Stadium which is part of Mairangi Bay's Millennium Institute.



Academy manager Dave Norris is pleased Vili has chosen to base herself there.



"I am very excited that the facilities and organisation at the Academy are attracting this quality of activity,'' he says.



"Didier has had enormous experience coaching throwers, and we have noticed the standards at the Bay Cougars club grow remarkably since he began to coach here.



"It is no surprise that Val turned to him for technical help. The Institute has co-operated very well in providing the facilities she needs and under Didier's guidance she is in an excellent environment,'' Norris says