JOHN Kelly is ramping up his preparation for 2020 as the Finn Valley AC man trains in Sweden under one of the world’s top coaches.
Kelly, who smashed club, Ulster and Donegal in 2019 and is currently with Global Throwing Team lead Vésteinn Hafsteinsson.
A four-time Olympian, Hafsteinsson, from Iceland, competed at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996).
St Johnston man Kelly, with his father, John senior, is in Sweden on a self-funded trip to sharpen his tools under the watch of Hafsteinsson.
Earlier this year, Kelly broke his various records three times on the one August Sunday.
At the International Throwing Meet in Leiria, Portugal, Kelly reached out to 18.34 metres, extended that to 18.37m and then landed a whopping 18.50m throw.
Kelly, who won silver at the Irish Life Health National Senior Championships in Santry, described breaking the 18m mark as going through a wall.
“His work ethic, commitment and desire to improve is exceptional,” Finn Valley AC Chairman and former Irish Athletics team manager Patsy McGonagle said.
“John has a very supportive family, which he is very fortunate to have. He is determined to improve his Donegal and Ulster records, indoor and outdoor, in 2020.”
Kelly regularly travels to Sweden to train with an elite group that also includes Swedish discus thrower Daniel Ståhl, a 2019 World Championship gold medalist in Doha.
