Justin Gatlin has made intriguing revelations about the key moments and mindset that shaped his legendary sprinting career.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has opened up about the defining moments that shaped his illustrious track and field career.
Speaking on the Run Your Race podcast with Theo Pinson and AJ Richardson, Gatlin delved into the highlights of his career and how each phase of his athletic journey was a stepping stone toward greatness.
The retired sprinter, who became a global sensation with his record-breaking speed, shared his journey of self-discovery and the milestones that helped him recognize his unique talent.
Gatlin has reflected on his encounters with Usain Bolt, including the first time they interacted, explaining how ‘cool’ and ‘fitting’ the legendary Jamaican’s name was.
With four Olympic appearances, including a 100m gold medal victory at the 2004 Athens Games, and six NCAA titles from his time at the University of Tennessee, Gatlin’s track record is nothing short of extraordinary.
Reflecting on his early career, Gatlin recalled a moment that made him realize he was more than just a fast runner.
“Success is attached to evolution, like yes I had a moment where I realized I was good but I wasn’t the best; there was still guys who were better than me,” he explained.
“So I had to realize like that moment was good then, but next year and the year after that I had to get better and better and better so I had multiple moments.”
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The sprinter fondly recounted his first real breakthrough, which occurred during a state competition.
“But my first real moment was probably winning state. You know, I literally won the 100 meters and came across the finish line. I went to go to the podium and then the whole crowd is like, I’m like, what are y’all doing? We about to start the race for the 110 hurdles, I also did hurdles. So literally they were lining up, so I had to jump off the podium, run over to the starting line, jump in the race; gun goes off. I win that race too. So then I come back to the podium so that’s when I realized, like I was a little more gifted than the average athlete.”
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Gatlin, who emerged from Woodham High School to become one of the most decorated sprinters in history, shared how he carved his path without traditional support systems like “camps” or “summer leagues.”
Instead, he relied on discipline and a healthy lifestyle, avoiding soda and sticking to homemade juices his mother prepared. This dedication earned him the nickname “juice man,” a title he embraced after proving his prowess on the track.
“I mean other than the fact of I knew to stay away from like drinking soda, you know what I’m saying. So that’s how I mean my mom used to make this thermos and she put like you know the juices and everything inside of it. So I’m carrying this this little thermos around kid the kids making fun of me and s**t. I mean like oh man look he’s the juice man. But then I’ll go run, I’ll beat them and they be like oh juice man got.”
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Gatlin’s journey to the national stage was inspired by sprinters Casey Combest of Kentucky and Dwight Thomas of Jamaica, whose stats pushed him to strive for excellence.
His career took off during his junior years when he joined the national team, marking the beginning of a remarkable run that included 10 World Championship appearances, yielding four gold and six silver medals.
