University of Tennessee Athletics
Christian Coleman Press Conference (8.22)
August 22, 2017 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee track legend and Team USA star Christian Coleman spoke to reporters about his experience at the London 2017 IAAF World Championships at Tuesday's press conference in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.
Tennessee Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan and assistant coach and sprints coach Tim Hall also spoke to the media about Coleman's outstanding stretch of success during the 2017 indoor and outdoor track seasons.
Coleman, who is a finalist for The 2017 Bowerman Award, earned silver in the men's 100 meters and the men's 4x100 earlier this month at the London 2017 IAAF World Championships. Coleman is also just the second person to win the USTFCCCA National Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year awards in the same season since the Bowerman Award was introduced in 2009. The other person to sweep the awards, Galen Rupp, also won the Bowerman in 2009.
Coleman became just the second person in NCAA history to win four sprint national championships in one year as he won the 60 meters and 200 meters during the indoor season and the 100 meters and 200 meters during the outdoor season. VFL Justin Gatlin, who accomplished the feat in 2002, is the only other person to complete the sprint double-double.
Coleman turned professional earlier this summer, signing with Nike. He will continue to take classes at the University of Tennessee to finish his degree while also training to compete as a professional track athlete.
Here are some quotes from Monday's press conference:
Christian Coleman
(On the London 2017 IAAF World Championships)
"The experience was second to none. I had a little taste of the world stage in Rio and then London was just a whole different level. The fans were crazy and the crowd was electric. It was the biggest stadium I've ever run in and it was a historic race, being Bolt's last season. It was a pretty exciting moment for me, it was a lot of fun and it was one of the best experiences of my life so far."
(On being the only person to be undefeated against Usain Bolt)
"It's pretty crazy to think about because he is an icon. He is a real celebrity. He's someone who has broken outside of the track world and everyone knows Usain Bolt. When you think of track, you think of Usain Bolt. He is someone who I've looked up to growing up in the sport and he is pretty much the greatest of all time. To even line up on the same line as him, was a humbling experience, to cross the line in front of him was just great. I can't even put it into words how much it really means to me."
(On Justin Gatlin being confident that Coleman can win Olympic gold)
"For sure. I think any young person growing up in the sport of track and field wants to. That's the pinnacle of the sport, you want to be on that level and win an Olympic gold medal. That's kind of in the back of my head. Three years from now, I want to make sure I'm on that stage, so I just have to take it one year at a time, really, one race at a time, and one practice at a time. You have to make sure you're focused on the little details to make sure you're staying on the top of your game to make sure you make it to that level and are ready to compete and live out your dream. That's definitely a dream and a goal of mine that I've wanted to accomplish ever since I started track and realized how big of a stage the Olympics really is. Hopefully I can get there make that team and make my dreams come true."
Tennessee Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan
(Opening Statement
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to talk about Christian and Coach Hall and this past summer and all the accomplishments that have happened over in London. On behalf of the entire program, I just wanted to say a few words and give a little bit of perspective on the accomplishments that we have with Christian Coleman. First of all, I think in my three years here at Tennessee, Christian as a freshman stated his purpose and passion was to come here and put Tennessee track and field back on the map. We just finished a week or two ago and he's got silver medals at the world level and is one of the fastest men in the world right now. So with that accomplishment, he went above and beyond, and he's that kind of guy, an above and beyond type of man. I'd also like to give a great shoutout to his coach, Tim Hall, who is the sprint coach here at Tennessee. He did a tremendous job in the development of Christian physically as well as emotionally, mentally, and in creating the atmospheres for Christian to excel in. And then give a great shoutout to our conference, the SEC, the NCAA, and of course the University of Tennessee that prepared him for competition at the world level, and continuing to do what he loves to do in his sport, now as a professional. I'm thrilled with where our program is at and where we're going, and today is not a day to talk too much about that, but I do feel like Christian Coleman's impact has put us back on the map and the rest of our team will carry it from there."
Tennessee Assistant Coach/Sprints Coach Tim Hall
(On when he realized that Christian Coleman had a chance to be a world class sprinter)
"Consider the 'it' factor. From his approach to working out, his work ethic, his demeanor, being able to remain calm in pressure situations. I think what you're seeing now is a result of coming through a very challenging conference, the SEC has really prepared this young man for the world stage that he just experienced. Three indoors and three outdoors of high level pressure and competition within the SEC will prepare you for moments like this. What I think was even more impressive was his broad shouldering of responsibility going into the race, and being able to kind of dictate terms in both races against a legend -- it's beyond what either of us could have imagined. But to answer your question, the very first opportunity we had to work out, he showed the 'it' factor in his work ethic and I knew he had something special."
Players Mentioned
