When it comes to sprinting events, the USA is one of the most dominant names in the world. In the longer-distance events, not so much. But that could finally change for the better. At the ongoing US Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, 27-year-old Grant Fisher just clinched a much-anticipated victory in the men’s 10k run and has secured a spot in the national team for his second straight Olympic Games.
The US’s distance running record in the Olympics has been pitiful, to say the least. Since 1964, no American has ever won the 10k title, but Fisher could be the one to alter that fact. But who is the man who shoulders such heavy responsibilities?
According to an article by The LA Times from May, Fisher could be the chosen one who can turn things around for the Americans after the country’s elaborate tryst with the elusive distance-running gold. A student of Stanford, Fisher’s early involvement in sports was soccer instead of track. Only in his seventh grade did he build up an inkling toward cross-country and was quick to make a name for himself. As of now, Grant holds the American record in several races, including the 10,000m and 5,000m events.
With a blistering 27:49.47, Fisher topped the leaderboard in the men’s 10k race at the Team Trials and has secured his berth to Paris. While this time is still greater than the time he took to finish the race at the 2020 Olympics (27:46.39), the fact that Fisher is the current world leader in the event with a time (26:33.84), makes him a favorite to win gold in the French city.