Jean-Pierre Egger (© Getty Images)
World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that Switzerland’s Jean-Pierre Egger – former shot putter turned international throws coach – died on 29 July, just one day before his 82nd birthday.
Born in Neuchatel in 1943, Egger first made his mark as a national-level athlete, excelling in both the shot put and discus. He captured nine Swiss titles in the shot put and three in the discus, and went on to compete at the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games. He reached the final at the latter, placing 12th.
He set his first national shot put record in 1976 (19.71m) and extended it to 20.25m in 1979.
But it was after retiring from competition that Egger achieved some of his greatest successes in the sport, as he went on to coach several stand-out athletes.
Fellow Swiss shot putter Werner Gunthor was one of the first athletes Egger coached. Gunthor not only smashed Egger’s national record, eventually extending it to 22.75m, he also won three world titles and earned Olympic bronze in 1988.
Egger also coached New Zealand’s Valerie Adams from late 2010 until early 2017, during which time Adams won two world titles, two world indoor crowns, and an Olympic gold medal. Adams also set her lifetime bests (21.24m outdoors and 20.98m) under Egger’s tutelage.
Egger also had coaching involvement with teams and individuals across a range of other sports, including basketball, sailing and football.
“I’m truly at a loss for how to express my gratitude to JP,” Adams wrote in an Instagram post. “I am so thankful for the way he accepted me into his life, treating me like family. I value the wisdom and skills he shared, and I’m especially grateful for the vital role he played as a father figure in my life. He’s the man who has shown me the genuine essence of love – first as a person and then as an athlete. His influence extends far beyond this lifetime.”
Gunthor also paid tribute to Egger, saying: “A great servant of athletics and Swiss sport has gone.”
In 2020, Egger’s contributions to the sport were recognised when he was named Switzerland’s best coach of the past 70 years at the Swiss Sports Awards.
World Athletics
