Canvey decathlete Dean Macey has stepped up his preparations for this summer's Olympic Games by joining a whole host of top British athletes in a South African training camp.
Macey plus heptathlete Denise Lewis, long jumper Jade Johnson and triple jumpers Ashia Hansen and Phillips Idowu among others are being put their paces by a number of highly rated coaches -- including John Herbert, Ted King, Aston Moore and Charles van Commenee.
And van Commenee, who helped guide Denise Lewis to Olympic glory in the 2000 Sydney Games, was quick to stress the importance of the well constructed schedule.
"The athletes have to hone their preparations for Athens in the high temperatures and similar circumstances they will meet in the Games this summer," said the Dutchman.
"They have to get accustomed to this heat and humidity and get away from the day to day distractions of their normal environment. They also need to focus on the business of preparing to compete to their full ability."
Published Wednesday January 7, 2004
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