Christian Coleman is a three-time world champion, two-time Diamond League Final winner, and the global 60-meter record holder, and he holds a 100-meter personal best of 9.76, which is faster than Paris Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles’ 9.79. Even in this season as well, Coleman ran four 100s: 10.06 s, 10.18 s, 10.13 s, and 10.11 s. This is all of his track and field, but Coleman is way beyond the track. Confused?
Well, before becoming a sprinting sensation, Christian Coleman was inclined towards a different sport. As the title says, it was football. Coleman was a promising football player during his high school years at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Transitioning to sprinting full time, Coleman’s football-honed acceleration and burst translated seamlessly to the starting blocks. Let’s dive deep into Christian Coleman’s football journey.
Christian Coleman’s Football Journey in High School
Christian Coleman, renowned for his sprinting prowess, had a multifaceted athletic background during his high school years. Football was the sport in which he began his athletic career. At football, Coleman played defensive back and wide receiver, both of which took advantage of his tremendous speed and quickness. Reflecting on his high school football days, Coleman once remarked, “My footwork is still better than half of the league today,” highlighting the lasting impact of his early athletic experiences.
In an interview with Olympics.com, Coleman agreed that he still misses the school football days. “I do. It was one of my first loves. I grew up playing football and thought that would be my route to play at college and maybe the next level. In America, football is everything. I wanted to be in the NFL.” He further added, “But I have the same amount of love for track and field, and I love that I get to focus on just track and field now. When I was growing up, I was doing both.”
According to UK Athletics, his final year in football was outstanding, featuring 116 tackles, five quarterback sacks, two fumbles caused, and two fumble recoveries. And, 2011 was his year. He was named the ‘Area Defensive Player of the Year’ by the Jackson Sun, and in a similar vein, was deemed his district’s ‘Most Outstanding Defensive Player’. In the Tennessee East-West All-Star Game, Coleman was named ‘Defensive Most Valuable Player’ for the West squad. His coach from Milan High School had really great things to say about him.
Coached by Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Hall of Famer Jeff Morris, Coleman’s performance was bound to explode. “Christian was a one-man wrecking crew. He has great talent and great intelligence. He’s large and explosive, with a knack for recognizing formations and stance,” Coach Morris said.
Although there are limited specific statistics from his football career at his high school, his playing time on the gridiron helped develop skills that ultimately led him to his success in track and field. Coleman was a multi-talented athlete; before going into football, he even tried soccer. But that’s not it. Christian Coleman’s parents got him admitted to even gymnastics.
After high school, Coleman received the Fred R. Langley Athletic Scholarship and attended the University of Tennessee, where he focused on track and field. His collegiate career was marked by significant achievements, including winning national titles and setting records in sprint events.
The Decision to Transition from Football to Track and Field
Christian Coleman, known today as one of the fastest men on Earth, didn’t always envision a future solely on the track. During his time at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, Coleman was a dual-sport athlete, excelling both as a standout sprinter and as a first-team all-state defensive back on the football field. His explosive speed and agility made him a formidable presence in both arenas.
However, as he approached his senior year, Coleman faced a pivotal decision. In an interview with Track & Field News, he reflected, “I played football in high school and also ran track, so I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with my future going into my senior year. I didn’t really get the offers I wanted from football, but I did with track from a lot of high-profile programs, and so I decided to go run track at Tennessee, and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made”.
This choice was further reinforced when Coleman won the Fred R. Langley Athletic Scholarship and subsequently went on to attend the University of Tennessee. Coleman majored in Sport Management and soon made a name for himself in collegiate track and field. His time at Tennessee was nothing less than incredible.
Christian Coleman equaled the collegiate record for the 60 meters with a 6.45-second time, narrowly missed the 200-meter collegiate record by 0.01 seconds, and was the first Volunteer to receive The Bowerman award, marking him as the country’s best collegiate track and field athlete. Coleman’s transition from football to track wasn’t just a change in sport; it was a strategic move that showed his speed and competitive drive.
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