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You may not have seen the men’s 10,000-meter race at the Olympics but if you had you would have witnessed one of the more incredible physical achievements of these Games or any Olympics of all time.
In these long races, which are diabolical 6.2 mile sprints, the fastest men are almost always from Kenya and Ethiopia. Almost never do Americans win medals in this type of race.
In fact, representatives from our country have only won a medal in this event three times since 1912 and the last time was 56 years ago.
So the odds weighed heavily against American Grant Fisher getting anywhere close to the podium. The 27-year-old resident of Utah, who attended Stanford University and grew up in Michigan, got ready for this pinnacle moment training in high altitudes to get used to conditions the Kenyans and Ethiopians train in.
He laid out a meticulous program to do everything in his power to win a medal.
While this guy’s chances were low, he came in with legitimate credentials. He became only the seventh high school student to run a mile under four minutes. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics he placed fifth in the 10,000 meters. Two years ago he broke America’s records in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
All that street cred was impressive, but out-toughing the African runners for a medal? Not likely. Not here at the Olympics. This was the biggest stage.
Six point two miles of high-wire agony around the track. Pain doesn’t even capture how much this run hurts.
He endured the suffering throughout the bulk of the race. He stayed within the top five and the announcer kept saying he was looking strong but it would be tough for him to kick at the end and win a medal.
You got the feeling he would go down as a guy who put out a valiant effort but succumbed to the insane speed and pain tolerance of the African runners.
It all seemed like a nice story that would end like it always seemed to with the American not on the medal podium. But this guy was up to the moment. At the end he sprinted effectively. Didn’t give in. His training had readied him for this moment when his entire life of running would culminate in either a medal or just missing.
Blazing past the finish line, he got third, a Bronze. Unlikely, improbable, an aspiration maybe too high.
But not this day.
Grant Fisher did the unexpected. He broke the mold.
An American on the medal stand in the 10,000 meters.
One of only four Americans.
Since 1912.
This guy is so cool I can’t even begin to tell you how much I admire what he did.
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Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:
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