Matt Shirvington

[white lightning]

Matt Shirvington of Australia has been the best white
100 meter sprinter in the world for around 6 years now.
He has a personal best of 10.03 which was set back in
1998.He has had alot of injuries but has not given up.
Last season he was showing alot of promise until he got
glandular fever.This ended any hope of running in Athens
at the Olympics.It's a shame.He ran a 10.09 early last
season. His nick name is Shirvo.He has been timed many
times and has as quick a top speed as the elite sprinters.His downfall has always been 3 things.One is
injuries.Two is the fact that he has never had a great
start.He seems to labor out of the blocks.Third is the
fact that his style is very choppy.He has trouble staying
in his lane sometimes.His raw speed is incredible.He
just has never smoothed out his running technique.He
is training in England mostly this year to try some
new methods.If he can change his style just a little,
he will still go sub 10 in the 100! I can't think of
anyone that would deserve it more than a kid that was
at one time,the fastest teenager in the world over 100
meters.He has had so many up and downs.He deserves to
break through first.

 

[white lightning]

I think he should have left his coach years ago.There is
no reason that he shouldn't have went sub 10 many times
by now and maybe medaled at a World Championships or
a Olympics.He should have at least been in a finals.
Matt is partially to blame but then you have to look at
his coach. Anyone that knows sprinting can see that he
needs help with his style.A good coach like Dan Phaff
would have helped him to change his style just enough
to get him over the hump.He has so much wasted energy
and that leads to alot of the injuries.By the way,his
10.03 was with no wind help.

 

[Colonel Callan]

You're right about his coaching. It's amazing a runner who looks so "raw" can run so fast. He doesn't seem to have worked on any of the fundamentals other than strength and maintaining top speed after 40 meters. I can think of one reason his obvious potential doesn't have coaches offering their help...

 

[white lightning]

Great news.From what I have read,Shirvo is now being
coached full-time by Tony Lester in England.This should
have happened years ago.I don't know too much about
Coach Lester but anyone has to better than Khmel.Matt
was stuck in quick sand with his form.At 27 he still
just might have time to turn his career around.I wish
him the best of luck with his new coach.

 

[white lightning]

Shirvo has his first big race next weekend in Australia
on January 22. He has been training in London and there
haven't been any reports on his progress.I wish him good
luck in getting back on top this year.If he wins the
Nat'l Champs in Australia later on,he will have won the
title of the fastest man there 6 out of 7 years!Wow!

 

[white lightning]

I haven't heard anything about Shirvo.He ran a few races
early this season in Australia and has dissapeared.He
is even hosting a tv show now.I wonder if he is thinking
about retiring.It is a world championship year.It
doesn't look good.I think that he might just end up
being one of the biggest underacheivers for his career.
I hate to say that,but he just couldn't put it
together in the Big Meets.This is a guy that has run
under 10.10 multiple times and ran a 10.03 into a
headwind.What a shame!

 

[SteveB]

From what I have read about him is that he didn't have that killer instinct to be an elite sprinter. IMO, he was too much of a nice guy and got intimidated at the big meets. Something that you don't see Wariner do.

 

[white lightning]

I did notice that Matt Shirvington is a member of the
Australian 4 x 100 Relay Team for the World Championships.That is at lease semi good news.It means
he has not retired yet.He will have to run at least
a few races to prepare for this August in Helsinki.

 

[white lightning]

Matt ran a relay race in England and the won.He also
competed in the 100 for the first time in about 6
months.He is out of shape obviously.He ran a 10.70.
Shirvo has been hosting various tv shows in Australia.
I wonder if he has lost the desire to be a sprinter.I'm
happy to see him run again but it would take a miracle
for him to be any bit of a factor this season.What a
shame with the World Championships in August.I guess we
will see if he continues to run races the rest of the
season.Good luck to him because he will need it.

 

[white lightning]

Will we see a blast from the past?I sure hope so.Shirvo is back racing this Sunday in Australia on Dec.18th!It is his first race of the year but the weather should be good and they could have some fast times.He has been training in England with his new coach.There is nothing that I would love more than to see him regain his form of several years ago.Many say it is too late.We shall see but I wish him the best of luck.When healthy and in shape,he is almost as good as anyone.Lite em up Shirvo!

 

[robcat]

What is the most important race he's ever won? Sounds to me, from my faraway from the action perspective, that he needs a much more effective training regimin,possibly a better diet, and improved motivation to improve. It seems strange for someone to be so close for so long without making a breakthrough improvement. Maybe he also needs a counsel/mentor to work aggressively on improving his confidence and willingness to put in the extra effort needed for success.

 

[SteveB]

I think that you are right robcat. Shirvo has all of the physical tools to be a championship caliber sprinter. His problems are in his head. His best international performances:

4th at the 1998 Commonwealth Games when he ran 10.03 sec.
4th at the 1999 World Indoor Championships (60m).
3rd at the 2001 Goodwill Games.

 

[white lightning]

I have said the same thing many time's in the past.I agree with you guys.Sprinting is as much mental as it is physical.Shirvo hasn't been the same sprinter in around 3 or 4 years at the least.He has lost his swagger and confidence.He needs a mental coach if it is not too late.The other problem has has always been his style.He runs too choppy and is all over the track.He wastes too much energy just trying to stay in his lane.Matt obviously it too tight and wound up.He needs to relax at top speed and just let it flow.The best sprinters are the ones that don't tighten up.I just wonder if it isn't already too late for him at his age to start over.I wish him the best of luck.

 

[white lightning]

Shirvo false started twice in Canbera,Australia and was disqualified from the race.Not a good way to start the season but at least he is healthy!On a very good note,Daniel Batman won his heat in a blistering 10.14 wind legal.Joshua Ross & Patrick Johnson also advance to the finals where P.Johnson won.Daniel Batman finished 2nd running another very fast time of 10.17.This is really good news for this early in the year.They are running world class times.Look out because Austalia Sprinting is back in full force!I just hope Shirvo can bounce back and join Daniel Batman with some very fast times.Both Ross & Johnson are aboriginee.

 

[white lightning]

Matt raced this past weekend twice and ran a 10.43 and a windy 10.28 in the second race.He has a month to try to qualify for the Commonwealth Games Australian Team.He needs to run in the 10.22 range.Shirvo is very confident that he can qualify in time to make the team.His next race will be next Tuesday.This is as healthy as he has been in a few years.Good luck to him in his comeback!

 

[white lightning]

Here is a link about the race.

http://www.sportal.com.au/othersports.asp?i=news&id=76000

 

[white lightning]

Two more races for Shirvo today.He ran a 10.36 and a 10.38 in the 2nd race.He needs to get down into the 10.2 range within the next few weeks to have a chance to make the Commonwealth Squad.Matt says he feels good and the times will come soon.I'm just glad to see him out there racing again and healthy.I really hope he can represent Australia in the games in front of his home country!