Ato Boldon: The Journey From World Champion Sprinter To World Champion Broadcaster

Jan 12, 2024

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I am so excited to introduce a unique and super interesting, lively, talkative guest—Ato Boldon!

Track & Field fans will recognize Ato since he is one of the fastest humans of all time who competed in the Olympics back in the ‘90s representing Trinidad and Tobago (he also has eight global medals). After retiring from elite competition, Ato transitioned into an amazing and lengthy career in the broadcast booth and he has worked as the lead broadcaster for NBC Track & Field for 17 years. I am not kidding when I say I consider him to be the single best commentator in the world in any sport, and it was actually because of a Track & Field event I attended (the Diamond League Finals in Eugene, Oregon) that I was able to connect with Ato since I happened to bump into him on my flight!

Thanks to that event, I was able to connect with him and interview him about his life and career: growing up in Trinidad and Tobago and later, New York and California, how he never lost a single race to another collegiate athlete, the injury and car accident that cut his athletic career short and how he transitioned into his second, still fulfilling career, the preparation and focus that goes into being a great broadcaster, coaching elite athletes and NFL players, and more!

TIMESTAMPS:

Even if you are not a track and field fan, you will enjoy Ato Boldon, one of the world’s most accomplished athlete and sports broadcaster. [00:45]

Ato has an interesting story to tell about his rise into the sport. [04:07]

Some young athletes do not start out with the natural talent or physical features necessary to become champions. [08:34]

It is difficult to know or see what potential there is in a young athlete. [12:24]

Ato’s formative years as an athlete were in the US. What would his story have been had he stayed in the Caribbean competing with those runners? [16:38]

It is difficult to be a professional in the sport of track and field. The competition with the world’s best is important, even more so than the color of the medal. [20:41]

Sports is about overcoming what life throws at us. [26:47]

How do the athletes’ times from a generation ago compare with today’s? Shoe technology has much to do with the new records. [30:20]

Usain Bolt has a reputation of being lazy in training rather than wisely resting more. What are Ato’s thoughts about Usain? [34:18]

Seven Steps, Drive Phase, are examples of coaching on running form in 1995. [39:07]

Ato’s career took a sudden turn after injuries sustained in an auto accident. He talks about learning to be a broadcaster. [41:32]

What does the future schedule look like for Ato? [58:34]

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