“Made the Biggest Change of My Life”: US Track and Field Pro, Holding the World Record for 400M, Drops ‘Shocking’ Mid-Season Update

The USA’s sensational athlete Michael Norman was able to snatch the gold in the 400m dash at the World Athletics Championships. He finished the race in 44.29 seconds running against former Olympic champion Kirani James and England’s Matthew Hudson-Smith. Now, the 24-year-old sprinter wants to conquer the 100m race. It is his dream to be titled the world’s fastest runner. Recently he took the first steps toward fulfilling these ambitions.

The ace sprinter revealed that he has been struggling to improve his speed for the shorter distance. Therefore, he has changed coaches and also adopted a new training regimen specifically designed to enhance acceleration. The choice of coach also tells us a lot about his future plans.

Michael Norman Teams Up With John Smith

Norman has selected John Walton Smith, a veteran in the sprinting world. Smith is said to have the “Midas touch.” He has previously trained four Olympians who earned a medal at their respective Olympic games. Under his mentorship, Norman clocked a 10.2 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut and came in third place. However, the sprinter was unhappy with his time and called his performance “terrible.” His signature event is the 400m dash, and the athlete is visibly facing a lot of trouble with his speed in the shorter sprint. He also participated in the 100m prelims at the USATF Outdoor Championships. He finished in eighth place with 10.31 on the clock.

But all hope is not lost for the athlete, especially with his new coach. In a recent video uploaded on a fan’s Twitter account, the athlete mentioned that he “made the biggest change of his life, changed coaches”. He is currently making more adjustments to achieve his peak form. He hopes these new changes will help him recover from his recent setbacks.

Michael Sets Sights on Redemption with Coach’s Guidance

In the same video, Norman speaks about his disappointment with his recent performances and determination to turn things around. He credits his new coach, John Smith, with helping him address his weaknesses in the few weeks he has been training under him. John Smith has a keen eye for detail, suggesting that Norman lose a pound or two to improve his speed. In addition to shedding some weight, Smith has also tweaked Norman’s workout routine to help him build endurance.

Read More: WATCH: Fred Kerley Beats Rival Michael Norman to Clinch the 200 m Title at USATF Golden Games 2022

Norman also explained that the sudden decision to change coaches was necessary because his performance was going downhill. He calls it the “best decision” as he believes it will make him more competitive for the 100m dash. Norman’s new resolution is to overcome the setbacks and also come out on top in the 100m race.

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