Parnov Key to Boyd Future

The reputation of WAIS pole vault coach Alex Parnov and unfinished business has convinced Queenslander Alana Boyd to move west to take the next step in her already impressive career.

Boyd’s move to Perth has been meet with support from her father and coach Ray Boyd – who himself was an Australian pole vault legend – with the 25 year-old Olympian due to arrive in Perth in coming weeks.

Boyd initiated the switch to WAIS after witnessing the continued success of coach Alex Parnov and his athletes training out of WA.

“Alex has proven himself as arguably the best pole vault coach in the world,” Boyd told The West Australian.

“He has taken the likes of Dmitri Markov, Kym Howe, Paul Burgess and now Steve Hooker to achieve amazing feats at world, Olympic and Commonwealth Games level.”

Alana Boyd is the leading female pole vault athlete in the country and said she was looking forward to setting new challenges in the west with Parnov’s squad.

“I want to be the best that I can be, and to make sure I get the most out of myself I need to be with Alex and his coaching squad,” she said.

“Dad sees this as a natural progression and he and my mum (Olympian Denise Boyd) were the people who suggested that I spend some time with Alex in Perth.

Western Australian Institute of Sport executive director Steve Lawrence stated the relocation suited all parties.

“She initiated the discussion with full support from her father, who has been her coach until now,” Lawrence said.

“National high performance manager Eric Hollingsworth was also supportive of the relocation.”

Lawrence also confirmed due to funding requirements, Boyd would be registered as a West Australian athlete as 90 percent of the WAIS program is supported through West Australian money.

“It is a requirement for her to agree to WA representation for us to allocate money for an athlete of her status to train here,” Lawrence said.