Cole Hocker recently shared his candid thoughts on the hurdles he faced during recent Diamond League competitions following his outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics. The American long-distance runner had conflicting feelings about his performance as he had to deal with competitive pressure.
In the post-race interview for the Brussels Diamond League featured on Citius Mag, Hocker was straightforward about himself and his last three Diamond League events for 2024: Lausanne, Zurich, and Brussels.
“Quite literally, overnight I became the Olympic champion. I think these three races were a test that I haven’t had in this sport before, and so I’m really happy with how I’ve managed that.“
He was surprised to win the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 1500-meter race. However, the pressure that followed for Hocker was unprecedented in his exceptional track career.
The three Diamond League races gave him valuable feedback, but he was pleased with how he handled himself in such difficult circumstances.
Hocker emphasized that, apart from the mental and physical strain of the Olympic Games, he had to confront various external elements, which he strove to suppress, but they eventually became undeniable and impossible to overlook.
The American acknowledged that the community had high expectations of him, but he also had confidence in himself for the upcoming races after the event in Paris. He could have chosen to end his season after the Olympics, but instead, he shared his motivation for continuing to compete:
“I made the decision to stick with it and optimize this moment in my life because I know how valuable this is, and I’m only going to be in this window once in my life.“
Hocker is eagerly anticipating the upcoming seasons leading up to the Los Angeles Games, where he plans to defend his Olympic gold medal. He will be the 1500-meter runner to watch, and in addition to the Championship races, he will also compete in another important track meet in 2025.
Hocker to compete in Grand Slam Track
The Grand Slam Track will be a crucial event in the 2025 season, with Cole Hocker joining Yared Nuguse and Josh Kerr. Michael Johnson included him in his coveted event because he wanted the track world to experience the famous 1500-meter race from the Olympics, with similar track athletes vying for a high reward.
However, another athlete will complete the roster, joining these three elite long-distance runners. The Grand Slam Track’s official website is yet to reveal more details, and fans are excited to witness the remarkable rivalry between these athletes.
