Kibwé Johnson
Been with SPIRE since February 2021
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Languages Spoken: English
Title: Head Coach – Throws
Bio: The California native, Kibwé Johnson established himself as one of the nation’s best hammer throwers of all time by being ranked first or second for over a decade. In that time, he secured 5 US titles, 4 US runner-up, and numerous US national teams. He retired in 2017 after his last World Championship appearance.
Kibwé directly credits his successes as an athlete and coach to his mentors. He’s personally worked with some of the most well regarded coaches in the US and internationally in Don Babbitt, Bob McKay, Stuart Togher, 4x Olympian Jud Logan, and lastly Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk.
Dr. Bondarchuk is a former Soviet Olympic Champion and world record holder. He has personally coached an unprecedented 9 athletes to over 80 meters in the hammer. Including the still standing world record holder. In addition to Kibwé, Dr. Bondarchuk also coached his wife, Crystal, herself a formidable athlete in her own right as Canadian Champion and Former Canadian Record Holder. Kibwé deeply values his 10 years spent with Dr. Bondarchuk as their time together greatly influenced the development of Kibwé’s own training methodologies.
Kibwé’s winning toss and personal best of 80.31m/263’5” at the 2011 USA Outdoor Championships was the best mark by an American hammer thrower in over a decade, making him only the fourth American to ever to go beyond the mythical 80-meter line. Additionally, his 2012 Olympic Final appearance was the first one by an American in 16 years.
Boasting a personal best of 65.11m/213’6” in discus, and 25.12m/82’5” in weight throw, Kibwé is the most versatile throws athlete of all time.
Having had success with athletes of all ages, most recently at a similar style boarding school in Florida, Kibwé’s coaching philosophy is built on communication and cites his experiences as a husband and father with learning how to become more effective as a coach.
Kibwé and Crystal have two daughters, Brooklyn and Ruby.
Education and Accreditations:
- Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from Ashland University (OH)
- USA Track and Field Certified Coach
- NCCP Certified Coach
- SafeSport Certified
Experience (Coaching and Playing):
- 2x Olympian
- 2x Pan American Games Gold medalist
- Pan American Games Silver medalist
- Pan American Games Record Holder
- 4x World Championship Team Member
- 5x US Champion
- 4x US Runner-up
- 3x NCAA Champion
- NCAA Record Holder
- 2x Georgia State HS Champion
- 3rd best American all time (HT)
- 5th best All-Time (WT)
- Highest Year End World Ranking achieved – 5th
- All-Time World Best HT/DT/WT combination
