CMSU's Kip Janvrin coaching Olympic gold medal hopeful

(Brian Brophy, Tom Pappas, and Kip Janvrin)

When Tom Pappas goes for the gold in the Olympic decathlon next Monday and Tuesday, August 23-24 in Athens, Greece, he will have the benefit of experience in his corner. First of all, he was an Olympic decathlete in the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. And secondly, one of his coaches will be Central Missouri State co-head track & field coach Kip Janvrin. Janvrin was also an Olympian in 2000, finishing 21st as the oldest U.S. athlete ever to compete in the Olympic decathlon.

Janvrin, along with Brian Brophy (Pappas' coach in his hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.) will be there on the infield to help the gold medal favorite through the grueling two-day, 10-event test.

Janvrin and Pappas have competed against one another many times through the years, and were roommates in Sydney. From those meetings, a friendship and a mutual respect has grown, one Pappas is hopeful will bring the ultimate prize.

"I met him in 1999," Pappas said before heading to Athens. "Kip has so much knowledge and experience in the decathlon, I just really respect him. It's nice to have someone there to hang out with who has been there, and who can make the experience a little easier."

"We got to know each other really well and we developed a friendship, and since that time through the years I guess he's liked what I've had to say," Janvrin added. "He thinks I can help him win the gold, so I am going to go over as one of his personal coaches."

Pappas, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, is the defending world champion. A man of Greek heritage, he is different from many modern day athletes in that he is a more mellow competitor. In that regard he is very much like Janvrin.

"We're kind of similar," Pappas says. "He likes to keep things simple, and because of that he really has a good understanding of what I need."

Janvrin said most of his work will come in the days leading up to the competition as he stays with the U.S. athletes on the island of Crete.

"Really for Tom it is fine tuning at this time," he says. "We'll spend almost seven days there working on some technical things and then two days before the competition we'll fly to Greece."

What does Janvrin get if Pappas takes the gold?

"I get the pride of knowing I was a part of it," Janvrin says. "Tom's a great guy, he's been great with my family, and I'm going to have a lot of pride, no matter how he performs. I know he is going to do well. We're hoping for the gold, but whether he medals at all, I'm still going to be proud of the guy."