Gatlin has explained why Cole Hocker, who stormed to a surprise gold medal in the 1500 meters to stun Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigsten, will redefine running in America.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has expressed his belief that Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, the newly crowned Olympic 1500m champion and bronze medalist, respectively, are set to redefine middle and long-distance running in the United States.
Their remarkable performances at the Olympics, where they defied expectations and claimed their spots on the podium, signal a significant shift in the landscape of American distance running.
Hocker and Nuguse managed to upset the odds, leaving pre-race favorites like Great Britain’s Josh Kerr and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the dust.
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Kerr had to settle for silver, while Ingebrigtsen, despite being a strong contender, failed to medal in the 1500m event, although he later redeemed himself with a victory in the 5000 meters.
The U.S., traditionally dominant in sprint events, demonstrated their growing prowess in long distances, with Grant Fisher also earning bronze in both the 5000m and 10000m men’s events.
Gatlin, speaking on his Ready-Set-Go podcast, highlighted how Hocker capitalized on the intense rivalry between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen, which had been brewing in the lead-up to the Games.
According to Gatlin, this rivalry may have caused the two favorites to lose focus, allowing Hocker to seize the moment and claim the gold.
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“The simple fact both are on the podium is monumental for Team USA,” Gatlin remarked. “When you get past the 400 meters, it is very difficult for Americans to overcome foreigners who are regimented in those distances.”
Gatlin pointed out that the rivalry between Jakob and Kerr may have been their undoing. “When you look at Jakob and Kerr, they have been battling all year, not just physically, but they trash talked. They was out there like crips and blood. They was getting nasty,” Gatlin observed, noting that this intense focus on each other may have distracted them from the race at hand.
“Sometimes when you focus too much on your adversary, you get slept on. You get caught lacking and that is exactly what happened,” Gatlin explained.
In his analysis of the race, Gatlin expressed surprise at a critical mistake made by Ingebrigtsen, which Hocker capitalized on.
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“When I watched that race, I did not understand why Jakob gave up the inside and Hocker was able to have the whole lane to run and win. He just took advantage of that gap and got victorious,” Gatlin said.
Gatlin also praised Nuguse for his consistent performance throughout the season and his strong showing in the Olympics.
“Nuguse has been running well this season and also all the rounds. He had one of the best semi-rounds out of all the runners and he put it together pretty well through the finals,” Gatlin noted.
The former sprinter was optimistic about the future of American middle-distance running, particularly with Hocker and Nuguse now having proven their capabilities on the world stage.
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“Shout out to all the runners, they did an amazing job on sealing the deals. This is not the last we have seen Jakob and Kerr going back and forth, but now we can say two other guys have entered the chat and they are going to talk about how good they are with those medals around their necks,” Gatlin concluded.
With the success of Hocker, Nuguse, and Fisher, Gatlin’s words suggest that a new era of American dominance in middle and long-distance running may be on the horizon.
These athletes have shown that the U.S. can compete at the highest levels in these events, and their victories are likely to inspire a new generation of American distance runners.