Salwa Eid Naser is making history in track and field. The Bahraini sprinter stunned the world in 2019 when she blazed to a 400m World Championship gold in 48.14 seconds, the third-fastest time ever recorded and the quickest in nearly four decades. He won a silver medal in the World Championship in 2017 and has been an Olympic relay bronze medalist in 2024. Thus, it is safe to say that he has a trail of shattering records. 

But let’s rewind. Salwa’s career isn’t all gold confetti. In 2016, a fractured ankle from a childhood car accident flared up, forcing her out of the Rio Olympics semi-finals. Then came the gut punch of a two-year doping ban (2021–2023) for whereabouts failures—a ruling she called “unfair” but vowed to bounce back from. Through it all, there is a coach who’s part strategist, part therapist, and for Salwa, that’s none other than Jose Rubio.

Who Is Salwa Eid Naser’s Coach? Meet Jose Rubio

Jose Rubio isn’t a household name yet. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, this low-key tactician took over Salwa’s training in 2017, and the results? Electric. Under Rubio, she dropped her 400m personal best from 50.88s to that jaw-dropping 48.14s in just two years. How? By blending old-school grit with modern science.

Rubio’s philosophy is simple: “Beat people, not just clocks.” He redesigned Salwa’s races to attack the first 200m aggressively, a tactic that left rivals like Shaunae Miller-Uibo scrambling in her wake. “He believed I could run faster than I ever imagined,” Salwa said after her 2019 World Championship win. “I used to laugh. Now I’m the one laughing all the way to the podium.”

But do you know what sets Rubio apart? Unlike Salwa’s previous coaches, Rubio’s squad has a clean slate, no doping scandals. Thus, a fact Salwa’s critics grudgingly respect.

Who Are Salwa’s Other Coaches? Everything to Know

Before Rubio, Salwa’s career was shaped by two polarizing figures:

Yanko Bratanov (2014–2017): The Bulgarian coach known for turning unknowns into stars—and stars into doping suspects. Under Bratanov, Salwa won World Youth gold (2015) but also trained alongside athletes like Samuel Francis and Kemi Adekoya, who later tested positive for banned substances. Critics called it guilt by association, but Salwa insists she’s clean: “I left that chapter behind.”

John George Obeya (2015–2017): A Nigerian expat who laid her foundation in Bahrain. Obeya, who still cheers her on from afar, recalls Salwa’s raw talent: “She was fearless, even as a teen. You just knew she’d be special.” 

Switching to Rubio in 2017 wasn’t just a coach change—it was a rebrand. Out went the shadow of doping rumors; in came a focus on “smarter, cleaner” racing.

Post-ban, Salwa’s back with a vengeance. Fresh off a 2024 Olympic relay bronze (hamstring pain and all), she’s now eyeing the 2025 Grand Slam Track series, a glitzy new league where she’ll face off against global elites in Miami, Philly, and beyond. Rubio’s game plan? “Stay aggressive, stay healthy.”

Long-term, the duo is chasing the 400m world record (47.60s), a mark many thought untouchable. “People said 48 seconds was impossible. Now they’re scared,” Salwa grinned in a recent interview.

So keep your eyes peeled. Whether she’s smashing records or clapping back at doubters, Salwa Eid Naser is rewriting track history with the help of his coach. One fearless stride at a time.