The purple tracks of Stade de France have turned out to be extremely lucky for Grant Fisher! As America welcomes its 42nd medal in Paris, this 27-year-old distance runner bags a shiny bronze in the men’s 10,000m finals. But wait, it gets better. With this accolade to his name, Fisher now becomes the 2nd American after 56 years to step on the Olympic podium in this category.

Fisher did shatter the glass ceiling, but he also wiped an unwanted notion of the record. As per Runner World, Fisher had previously mentioned how he grew up with people not having a positive opinion of American distance runners. He had said, “When I was growing up, the narrative around the U.S. was you can’t compete with the rest of the world.” “Distance runners [are] the East Africans, the Europeans; the Americans just aren’t as good.” And Fisher’s historic feat is now a fitting reply for shutting down the naysayers.

Well, Fisher mentions how there have been a few exceptions, namely Paul Chelimo, Matthew Centrowitz, Galen Rupp, who have also experienced the Olympic honor before. But, he says, “Plenty of American record holders haven’t medaled.” Well, Galen Rupp is the trailblazer from America who won the men’s 10,000m silver at the London Games. Nonetheless, “it’s a little more rare,” which may have now amplified Fisher’s sense of achievement. Alos, as he had previously mentioned how he really wants the medal in Paris, as that’s the one thing on his wish list that he doesn’t have.

Indeed, his 26.43.46, from today’s race have made these dreams come true. It ended Fisher’s long wait, one that he came extremely close to ending in Tokyo 2021, but missed.

Grant Fisher’s delight in Paris comes in after significant hardships

Grant Fisher participated in the Tokyo Games, executed his plans, but fell marginally short of the victory dias. Coming in fifth, he had narrowly missed a medal. But was this the closest to a win that he has ever been? Indeed no. He got another chance of proving his skills at the World Championships in Eugene. And notably, he put on a class show. But he just wanted fated to win that day, as a mere 0.17 seconds costed him the bronze spot. Plus, in the 5000m event, he had tumbled onto the tacks when Jacob Krop cut into his lane.

The heartbreak would have possibly ached more as he had left no room for error in his efforts. Despite an injury in his left leg, he did not move his vision from the winning spot. But, today, it is redemption time. For all the losses, as he finally gets an Olympic medal and inks his name in the record books of this nation.