01 Dec '19

‘ Father and coach are separate roles’

12423
door Michaël Bellon
A bronze medal at the Athletics World Championship in October and a gold medal in February at the European Indoor Championship: the achievements of the Belgian Tornados, the 4x400 relay team, which includes Kevin, Jonathan and Dylan Borlée, three members of one family, are downright impressive.

Jacques Borlée, the father of the successful athletes, did not have any master plan but he did help to guide his children to success. 'I'm a coach during training but a father as soon as a personal problem arises. The atmosphere during (training) is pretty relaxed. The intense concentration required to perform well can only be achieved when everybody is calm and composed. A coach's job is to help athletes overcome their fears.'