This week, I’d like to do something different and introduce some of the great coaches I’ve had over the years by pulling up some YouTube footage of them.  Although I was primarily coached by my father growing up, and trained with Thom Glielmi through college, I’ve had the opportunity to train with a lot different of coaches.  Most of my coaches competed in the Olympics and/or were world champions at one point in their careers.  I’ve been very lucky to have had the chance to work with them and I definitely look up to them for all they’ve done.

First I’d like to introduce Mutsumi (Harada).  Mutsumi came from Japan and helped coached the Stanford team during the ’05-06 season.  He is an awesome guy and it was great to be able to work with him and get his input during his stay.  In his prime, he competed at the 1999 World Championships and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney for Japan.  He was a very powerful gymnast in his day and also graduated from the same university as Hiroyuki Tomita and is currently an assistant coach there.