The techniques that brought her a world discus title at Athens in 1997 no longer work. She knew her career was at the crossroads when she failed to qualify for the final three throws at the world athletics champion ships at Osaka last year.
Faumuina (33) made a fresh start when she asked Waitakere city councillor Ross Dallow to be her coach. There was an added bonus when his son, Matt returned from the United States to be the strength and condition ing coach for the Highlanders rugby team.
Faumuina has spent an agonising few days in Dunedin this week while Matt Dallow has worked on her technique.
‘‘We are refining the small things that need adjusting,'' he said yesterday.
Faumuina knew she could miss selection for her fourth Olympics if things did not change.
‘‘Matt has looked at every facet of my technique and taught me how to throw again,'' she said ‘‘He has answered a lot of my concerns about technique. It is comforting to know there are a lot of things we can fix.''
Faumuina is changing the motor patterns that had been ingrained in her technique.
‘‘Matt has come up with the answers. Once all parts of the throw have been put together we should see something fantastic.'
Faumuina has remained in the national spotlight for the past 11 years as a television presenter on Tagata Pasifika and by finishing runner-up to former Miss New Zealand Lorraine Downes in Dancing With The Stars two years ago.
A refined and rejuvenated Faumuina has lost weight and hopes to join the other interna tional athletics stars on the podium at the Beijing Olympics in August.
