Olympian and world champion 400-meter sprinter, Michael Norman, 25, now has his sights set on being a top contender in the 100-meter race.
According to NBC Sports, those in charge always thought Norman would do well in the 100 meters. This summer, he’ll race the event at the U.S. Track and Field Outdoor Championships where there are three berths for the world stage in Budapest in August.
“We’ve always had this idea that once I develop and accomplish the goals that I want to do in the 400 [meters], that the goal will be to drop down to the 100 [meters],” Norman told NBC Sports. “I can comfortably say that I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve in the 400 and I can start challenging myself and trying something new in attempting to medal and break records in the 100.”
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In 2020, when the Olympics were postponed and other major meets were canceled, Norman was able to dip his toe into the 100 meters.
He ran 9.86 seconds for the distance in Texas, which according to NBC Sports, was the fastest time in the world that year. In 2021 he placed fifth in Tokyo in the 400 meters. Last summer, he won the 400 meters at the World Championships in Eugene.
“I feel like I’m reaching my prime,” Norman told NBC Sports.
But if he doesn’t make the world team in the 100, he’ll still be able to defend his 400 title.
“In a world where things go absolutely terrible, then I will be defending my title in the 400m,” he said. “But if things go the way that I plan it to go, then I’ll be fighting for a new title.”
Fellow Olympian Fred Kerley made a similar transition from the 400 meters to the 100 meters, and it’s worked out very well so far. After winning bronze in the 400 meters at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Kerley dropped down to the 100 meters, where he earned silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and gold at the World Championships in Eugene this past summer.
Dan is a writer and editor living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and before coming to Runner’s World and Bicycling was an editor at MileSplit. He competed in cross country and track and field collegiately at DeSales University.
