Athletics prodigy Philo Saunders was a star in his own right when he added coaching to his résumé in 2008.
More than a decade later, and Philo is currently juggling 16 athletes – three of them Paralympians, with another on the pathway – with his own career as a competitor, and more recently, as a guide for middle-distance rockstar Jaryd Clifford, who has a vision impairment.
Together with Tim Logan, with whom Philo shares the responsibility of guide, the trio are working towards selection to the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team. And fresh off a world title in the men’s 5000m T13, which saw Philo get off to a flying start and Tim bring it on home, we like their chances.
As well as Jaryd and Tim, Philo also coaches Paralympians Michael Roeger and Deon Kenzie, and emerging talent Sam Harding. And these partnerships have proven incredibly fruitful. In the eight …
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Athletics prodigy Philo Saunders was a star in his own right when he added coaching to his résumé in 2008.
More than a decade later, and Philo is currently juggling 16 athletes – three of them Paralympians, with another on the pathway – with his own career as a competitor, and more recently, as a guide for middle-distance rockstar Jaryd Clifford, who has a vision impairment.
Together with Tim Logan, with whom Philo shares the responsibility of guide, the trio are working towards selection to the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team. And fresh off a world title in the men’s 5000m T13, which saw Philo get off to a flying start and Tim bring it on home, we like their chances.
As well as Jaryd and Tim, Philo also coaches Paralympians Michael Roeger and Deon Kenzie, and emerging talent Sam Harding. And these partnerships have proven incredibly fruitful. In the eight years since joining Philo’s squad, Michael has won Paralympic bronze, a world title, and four World Championships minor medals, and is the current T46 world record holder across three disciplines.
Off the track, Philo enjoys playing baseball, cricket and Australian rules, as well as camping, fishing and spending time with his family. Born in the USA to a German mum and an Australian dad, Philo and his wife, Susan, and their two children, Luca and Mischa, call Canberra home.
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