USA’s Grant Fisher beats odds, shows he ‘belongs’ in making medal podium in men’s 10,000m

Fisher on the mindset shift: ‘I belong in these [top] positions’

Fisher kept at it and 2022 turned out to be a great year. He went down as the first American to run the 5,000m in under 12:50 and the 10,000m in under 26:40.

Later that season in Eugene, Oregon, at the World Athletics Championships, he attempted the track distance double again, finishing fourth in both events.

Fisher was on the right path to becoming one of the world’s best distance runners, until a series of injuries derailed his plans.

The runner left his long-term training base at the Bowerman Track Club in Eugene and sought out his high school coach Mike Scannell at Park City, Utah.

Working his way back to form wasn’t easy. But Fisher was keen to blossom into one of the world’s best distance runners.

“I think in the past three years my mindset shifted a lot to I kind of belong in these positions and I have become a better athlete,” said Fisher.

At the Stade de France on Friday, we saw glimpses of the new Fisher. He was calculated from the gun, staying within touching distance of the lead pack and only falling back after he was clipped from behind, but steadily managing to stay in the race.

“So many things have to come together to get that to happen. My margins were probably more slim than these guys today,” he said. “The race could have gone a lot of different ways, and they could have gone on the podium, but I needed to execute a really spotless race. I wanted to be in good position the whole time and I don’t have the light speed to make out a ton of speed instantly, and it worked well.

“These races always come down to the last lap, specifically the last 100 meters, to be in position and fighting you are running the line the whole race, but the last few meters you can see your goal right in front you.

“I can count to three, and this sport is defined by top three. These guys have been on the podium before — this is my first time.”

Fisher now shifts focus to the 5,000m that starts on 7 August, before the final on the last day of track action on Saturday, 10 August.

He hopes that winning Team USA’s first track and field medal of the Paris Olympics inspires a new generation of long-distance runners.

“I hope that everybody can see that as my mindset shifts, so should everybody’s in the U.S. as well,” Fisher said. “People are capable of great things, and you have to put yourself in the positions and believe in yourself in order for good things to happen.”