Kyle Clancy

“After graduating from UC Davis, where I competed in the decathlon for four years, my college coach moved to another school. Despite this, I remained in Davis, determined to train for the Olympic Trials. That's when Coach Atanas Atanassov stepped in. He agreed to coach me independently, and over 18 months — even through the first year of COVID — I achieved personal bests in the 100m, 200m, shot put, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, and pole vault. Under Coach Atanas' guidance, my decathlon score improved from 7,252 to 7,684 points.

I attribute this progress to Coach Atanas’ advanced training regimen, which balanced volume and intensity throughout the year, from offseason preparation to championship performance, all while keeping me injury-free. What truly sets him apart is his event-specific expertise. He built on my existing form and helped me refine each event. For example, thanks to his coaching, I improved my pole vault by 45 cm, reaching a height of 5 meters. Coach Atanas would always listen to how I felt physically, technically, or mentally, never being afraid to adjust his plan as needed to make me the best athlete I could be, and for that, I am forever grateful. Thank you, Coach.”

— Kyle Clancy