Steeplechaser Jamaine Coleman tells Jessica Whittington about the support he has received from the former European indoor champion

Helen Clitheroe's fresh new ideas – together with her great experience and open mind – make her one of the best up and coming coaches in the sport, believes Jamaine Coleman.

The British international steeplechaser was coached remotely by the former European indoor champion for a year before he joined his current Tinman Elite team in Boulder, USA, and says his fellow Preston Harriers athlete has been a key figure in his career.

READ MORE: Jamaine Coleman's next chapter

"Helen has always been like a role model to me growing up," says the 25-year-old. "You see this star who has been to two Olympics and has competed for Great Britain like 60 times. I always looked up to her.

"As I started to get better in the sport I would reach out to her for advice and our relationship began there and continued to grow.

"If I was based in the UK it would have been fantastic because I think she is going to be one of the best up and coming coaches in the sport, definitely."

While giving recognition to each of his coaches – from Andy Bibby at Preston through to Tom Schwartz at Tinman – and the impact they have had on his career, Coleman praises Clitheroe for her positive influence.

"She came with fresh new ideas because she is a fresh new coach," he says. "She took her experiences but was willing to be open to what I thought and moulded them together in the best possible way.

"Helen was willing to hear my opinion. We would work together and we would make compromises.

READ MORE: Helen Clitheroe’s coaching journey

"I think the most important thing that I have learned from her is that as an athlete I do have a voice and I should be willing to question ‘why are we doing this?’ and if that coach can’t come up with a reason why, I have every right to be unhappy with the decision or go against it, in a good way.

"Aside from the training aspect where she grew me aerobically, it was just to hold my own ground.

"She was just such a positive influence constantly."

» Click here to read more from an interview with Jamaine Coleman

» Read more about Helen Clitheroe's coaching journey here

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