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The 18-year-old sprinter, bypassed college to turn professional, signing with Puma and aiming to establish himself as one of the top 100m and 200m runners, inspired by athletes like Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo.
From being dropped from the US team to the Paris Olympic Games to signing a deal with Puma, one of the best sporting brands in the world, Christian Miller wants to change the narrative.
Earlier this season, the 18-year-old was uncertain about turning professional or going to college but he seems to have gotten a stand, chasing the bag and making the most out of his talent.
In an interview with NBC News, the American youngster expressed the desire to be on top of the world and dine with greats like Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo. His dream is certainly getting closer as he bypasses college to focus on his professional career.
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After signing with Puma, Christian Miller will not change much in his training as he plans to remain in Jacksonville and focus on the 100 and 200 meters under his longtime coach Ricky Fields. To sharpen his other skills, Christian Miller will also take online classes on computer science, digital media and cinematography through Liberty University, as per NBC News.
“What I’m most excited about this coming year is definitely stamping my name down as one of the most dominant track and field sprinters out there. Usually, you hear the names in recent years, you heard the names like Noah Lyles, and you’ve heard Letsile Tebogo and things like that. I’m trying to stand myself down as one of the top 100- and 200-meter runners,” Christian Miller said.
He finished fifth at the US Olympic trials, a feat not usual from an 18-year-old who was racing against a strong cast of runners.
Noah Lyles emerged winner with Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley coming second and third respectively in the race. Christian Coleman missed out on a podium place with his fourth-place finish.
Christian Miller explained that his reason to forego college is because he would be taking steps back after working extremely hard to achieve the titles he has now.
“Every single year I’ve had, I feel like I’ve taken a big leap moving forward. I felt like if I were to go to college, from the times I already ran, I felt like I would be taking a step back almost. I looked at all the resources and things that I had back at home and everything I would have at UGA,” Miller said.
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“And I just kind of told myself that I’m trying to go big, and I’m trying to really make a stamp in the track and field world and I feel like this is the best way to kind of put my talent out there and kind of strike while the iron’s hot. That’s why I decided to go ahead and turn pro.”
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