When it comes to sprinting events, the USA is one of the most dominant names in the world. In the longer-distance events, not so much. But that could finally change for the better. At the ongoing US Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, 27-year-old Grant Fisher just clinched a much-anticipated victory in the men’s 10k run and has secured a spot in the national team for his second straight Olympic Games.

The US’s distance running record in the Olympics has been pitiful, to say the least. Since 1964, no American has ever won the 10k title, but Fisher could be the one to alter that fact. But who is the man who shoulders such heavy responsibilities?

According to an article by The LA Times from May, Fisher could be the chosen one who can turn things around for the Americans after the country’s elaborate tryst with the elusive distance-running gold. A student of Stanford, Fisher’s early involvement in sports was soccer instead of track. Only in his seventh grade did he build up an inkling toward cross-country and was quick to make a name for himself. As of now, Grant holds the American record in several races, including the 10,000m and 5,000m events.

With a blistering 27:49.47, Fisher topped the leaderboard in the men’s 10k race at the Team Trials and has secured his berth to Paris. While this time is still greater than the time he took to finish the race at the 2020 Olympics (27:46.39), the fact that Fisher is the current world leader in the event with a time (26:33.84), makes him a favorite to win gold in the French city.

“I’ve been close. Some work to be done, of course,” said Grant about his chances of striking gold at the 2024 Games. However, the road to the top hasn’t been easy, as Fisher’s own case will attest.

Grant Fisher’s arduous trek to the highest levels

Last year, in the same city of Oregon, Grant began his comeback journey after turbulent times. After a stimulating Diamond League performance, Grant showed his prowess once again at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic, where he won the bronze medal in the men’s 3000m race. While his femur injury kept shedding doubts about his worth, Fisher made it a point to highlight his thirst to get his mojo back a year before the big showdown in Paris. With Hall of Famer coaches like Bob Larsen backing him up, Fisher’s chances of winning gold have only gotten stronger since.

With a first-place finish at Ten TEN earlier this year, Grant has been successfully able to display how he has bounced back from his physical adversities. However, while even he was skeptical about his chances of making the team.”Nothing’s guaranteed. It’s a very hard team to make,” Fisher said before the trials. It looks like he might have attempted to sell his abilities a little too short.