Yared Nuguse

No clock is necessary to appreciate the many talents of Yared Nuguse – the eyeball test is more than enough. Every long and loping stride that the Kentucky-native takes is evidence that he was simply built differently. Legs aren’t supposed to be that long, but when running a 3:43 mile then it certainly helps.

The way Nuguse first made headlines as an athlete is representative of his persona on the track: he is unassuming and humble, yet always ready to surprise. In the spring of 2021, while competing for Notre Dame, Yared shocked the track world during the prelims of his conference meet when he went out solo from the gun to run 3:34 for 1500m to set the collegiate record. No one expected it.

That set the stage for his first Olympic qualification later that summer, and eventually Paris. Following a blistering first few laps, something Nuguse always welcomes, a final burst in the final fifty meters landed Nuguse on the podium in what has unequivocally been called the greatest 1500m in Olympic history. 

Off the track, Yared is calm, cool, and collected. He is soft spoken and excited to share pictures of his pet tortoise, talk video games, or solve a Rubik’s Cube. But on the track, Yared is also calm, cool, and collected – except he is going to drop everyone.