Thanks to his sensational 3:30.59 finish at the US Track and Field Olympic Team Trials 2024, Cole Hocker secured his place on the national team for a second-straight Olympic Games. And he proved his worth as he clinched gold for the University of Oregon. Hocker defeated the favorites Josh Kerr, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Yared Nuguse to win the gold medal in the 1500 meters with a new Olympic record and North American region record of 3:27.65, nearly three seconds better than his previous personal best.

Having a strong support system is one of the cornerstones for an athlete to shine on big stages. Luckily for Cole, the 23-year-old didn’t have to look too far to find cheering voices rallying to his cause.

Who is Cole Hocker’s father?

Cole Hocker’s father is Kyle Hocker, and it seems Cole has the speed in his genes, as Kyle also has a strong passion for running and endurance sports. The love for running runs strong in the Hocker household: Cole’s father, Kyle, completed a 50-mile race on his 50th birthday. While Cole’s parents, Kyle and Janet, initially wanted their son to pursue a profession in medicine, when he found his calling in track sports, they didn’t hesitate to drop everything and stand firm in his corner.

Kyle has been Cole’s biggest fan since day one—literally. From the moment he saw his son’s talent on the track, he knew Cole had something special. He’s been there every step of the way, attending nearly every race since Cole was in third grade. When most kids were just running around for fun, Kyle saw potential. He wasn’t just a supportive parent—he took an active role in shaping Cole’s training. He dove deep into research, learning everything he could about track and field techniques.

If that wasn’t enough, Kyle has been a steady presence as a volunteer coach for his son’s teams. He also claims not to have missed any of Cole’s performances since the latter was in third grade, starting from when he joined Horizon Christian School and began his track career. When Cole ran at the Foot Locker Cross Country as a high school senior, Kyle was seen running alongside his son from the sidelines. “I think I ran the last 200 meters right alongside him as fast as he did. I was hurting for a week,” joked the Olympian’s father later.

Instead of just pushing endurance workouts, Kyle encouraged Cole to focus on speed-based methods, believing that explosive power would set him apart. And he was right. Cole went from a promising young runner to a collegiate star and, eventually, an Olympian. Through it all, Kyle’s unwavering belief never wavered. But nothing could have prepared him for the moment Cole shocked the world in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Like some of the athletes who joined Hocker on the flight to Paris on the arduous trek to the summit of their respective events, the ex-Cathedral High School student Cole also had a family to fall back on whenever he needed some extra motivation to keep pushing himself. And they never left him hanging. As Cole surged from fifth to first in the final 300 meters of the 1500m, Kyle’s reaction became an instant viral moment. Watching in disbelief, he blurted out, “What the f—!”—a raw, unscripted moment that captured the sheer shock and pride of a father who had been there from the start. Interestingly, Cole has been a low-maintenance kid, as his father once said. In an online article from around four years ago by LetsRun, Kyle claimed that Cole is a pretty low-maintenance person. “He doesn’t even want a car. He’s different in that way,” said Kyle.

Who is Cole Hocker’s mother?

Cole Hocker’s mother is Janet Hocker, and she is a lawyer by profession. Along with providing all of their moral support, Kyle and Janet actively try to ensure their son meets his needs. Both parents have always supported Cole’s passion for running since he was a kid and have always been a guiding light for him to excel in his career. Though Janet leads a secluded existence, the media rarely discusses her outside of her relationship with Cole.

This unwavering support has helped Cole win three NCAA Indoor Championships as well as several other national indoor and outdoor honors. But will it also be enough to take on more formidable foes from around the world at the Paris Olympics and get him his maiden hardware on the grand stage? We’ll have to wait just a few more weeks for the answer.

What is Cole Hocker’s parents’ nationality?

Ever wondered where Cole Hocker gets his competitive spirit from? His parents, Kyle Hocker and Janet (née Davis), are both proud Americans. With their unwavering support, Cole has turned his Olympic dreams into reality!