At long last, CJ Allen is set to make his Olympic debut after nearly two decades in the sport. The WSU graduate earned his spot on the national team by clocking 47.81 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles final at the US Olympic Team Trials on June 30, turning his dreams into reality. Improving on his semi-final time in Eugene, Allen punched his ticket to the Paris Games. Even though the Paris Olympics have thrown him some curveballs, his determination remains unshaken.

At the Paris Olympics, athletes have grappled with a slew of challenges, from scorching heat waves and insufficient food to unsanitary conditions in the Olympic Village. There were shortages of eggs and grilled meats, raw meat was served, and the discomfort of the cardboard beds. So, how does CJ Allen navigate these obstacles? Well, in an exclusive chat with EssentiallySports, he opened up about the trials he’s faced during the Olympics and how he is rising above all of them.

When EssentiallySports’ correspondent Shreya Verma, reporting live from the French capital, asked CJ Allen in an exclusive interview about the food and the infamous cardboard beds at the Paris Olympics, Allen responded with a laugh. Allen said, “The food situation is about the same. We have a high-performance center with chefs we flew in, so they handle a lot of our meals. While some are eating out, everyone has to deal with the cardboard beds just like everyone else.”

However, when he was asked about his experience in the Olympic Village, Allen said, “It’s good so far. We’ve been flipping out here for about a month now; just another competition. I’m acclimated and get to hang out with a lot of my teammates and good friends from last year’s World Championship team. For us, it’s just another big championship lead. This is always going to stay the same; we just get locked in regardless of what’s going on.”

Allen’s dedication is clear as he prepares to shine on the global stage. With a personal best of 47.58 seconds in the 400m hurdles and a season-best of 47.81, he’s ready to pull out all the stops no matter whatever struggles may come up. His journey has been a rollercoaster, with near misses including semifinal exits at the U.S. Outdoor Championships in 2017 and 2019, and close calls in the 400m hurdles finals in 2018 and 2022.

However, 2023 was his turning point, as he finally made his first U.S. team and qualified for the World Championships in Budapest with a time of 48.18 seconds. But this conversation didn’t end there only as Allen further discussed his training.

Can CJ Allen balance training and ambitions for the Olympic glory?

Having been in Paris for over a month, CJ Allen hasn’t had much time to explore the city as he is completely focused on his training. He went on to explain, “I’m locked in just training.”

Interestingly, Allen is acquainted with the French tracks. Last year, he won the 400m hurdles with a time of 47.92 seconds at the Meeting de Paris at Stade Charléty. Allen also set a new personal best at the Oslo Diamond League meeting in 2023.

When Shreya Verma asked him, “What’s the one thing you’re looking forward to apart from competing?” Allen replied, “I was really looking forward to being here in this atmosphere. Everybody’s on the same page, so this is what we train for… We’re here to start executing.” It seems he’s not only enjoying the moment but also giving his all! Since last year, CJ Allen has delivered some of his best performances, setting impressive times in the past year.

He clocked a career-best 47.58 seconds in Norway last June and his 47.81 seconds at the Olympic Trials stands as his second-fastest career mark. Allen is confident in his ability to contend for a medal. “There’s a route for me to get a medal this year.” However, initially, Allen juggled his racing career with pursuing a doctorate and a Masters in sports health science.

He’s also in the process of opening the DFA Chiropractic and Sports Performance Institute near Atlanta. If all goes well, Dr. Allen plans to continue his track and field career post-Olympics. So, can he grab a medal at this year’s Games? To find out more about athletes’ journey and aspirations, take a peek at EssentiallySports’ Exclusive Interviews today!