Briana Williams Changes Coaches: Heading to LA to Work With Renowned Queen-maker

Olympic gold medallist, Briana Williams, has parted company with coach, Michael Frater, to join HSI International.

The 21-year-old 100 metres and 200 metres sprinter, is heading to Los Angeles, in the United States, where she will be under the tutelage of John Smith.

Smith is renowned in track and field circles and has been credited with guiding parts of the careers of Olympic Champion Maurice Green and another of Briana Williams’ former coaches, Ato Boden.

Smith is also credited with conditioning former Olympic champion Marie-José Pérec. He was also the coach of 100m World Champion Carmelita Jeter in 2009 when the American clocked 10.64 seconds at the Shangai Grand Prix to take the unofficial title of fastest woman alive. Jeter held the distinction for over a decade.

Among the current athletes in the HSI stable is Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast.

Smith is an Olympian, competing at the 1972 Games, and he won double gold at the 1971 Pan American Games.

Williams, who is a back-to-back World Championships silver medallist, says the latest move is designed to take her career to the next level.

“I’m excited to join a new team and work with coaches who will help me reach my full potential,” Williams said. “I’ve achieved a lot so far, but I know I can do even better with the right support and training. I’m looking forward to pushing myself and seeing how far I can go.”

In September 2022, Williams, left then trainer, Ato Boden, to join Titans International, in Jamaica.

In October 2023, Williams became one of several athletes to leave with Frater when he founded Dynamic Athletics.

Williams thanked Frater for his guidance in recent months.

“I am extremely grateful to Coach Frater for the work he has done to help my progress so far this season and I wish him and the members of the Dynamic Athletics team the very best going forward.”

Williams’ move is seen as a strategic step towards converting the promise of the young sprinter into contending for individual gold at future Olympics and World Championships.

It’s understood that improving Williams’ technique will be among the key goals of her work with Smith.