About the Guest(s):
Yared Nuguse is an Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500 meters with an inspiring journey that began in Louisville, Kentucky. A graduate of DuPont Manual High School, Yared was initially focused on academics and had no intention of pursuing athletics. Until, a serendipitous event in a PE class revealed his running talent. He later became an NCAA champion at Notre Dame and has since progressed to a professional running career. Despite his sporting achievements, Yared still plans to attend dental school and become an orthodontist one day.
Mick Motley is a PE teacher at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Noteworthy for his role in discovering Yared Nuguse’s running talent, Mick noticed Yared’s potential during a mile run exercise.
Tim Holman is the cross-country coach at DuPont Manual High School. After Mick Motley's discovery, Tim played a crucial role in encouraging Yared to join the cross country and track teams, recognizing his extraordinary talent and guiding him through his early running career.
Episode Summary:
In this episode of "Kentucky Sports Memories," host Gary Fogle delves into the fascinating journey of Yared Nuguse, from a high school student focused on academics to an Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500 meters. This inspirational story highlights the importance of unexpected opportunities and mentorship in shaping athletic careers. Discover how Yared’s initial interest in running was piqued by the incentive of a McDonald's treat and evolved into an impressive athletic career through the guidance of dedicated educators.
Key Takeaways:
Yared Nuguse’s running career started with a simple PE class assignment, highlighting how unforeseen circumstances can lead to significant opportunities.
Yared successfully balanced a rigorous academic schedule with athletic training, eventually excelling both in high school and at Notre Dame.
Despite his athletic success, Yared remains committed to his academic goals, with plans to become an orthodontist in the future.
Initial motivation can come from unexpected sources, such as Yared’s desire to get to McDonald's first, which eventually led him to discover a love for running.
Notable Quotes:
"I thought I had some general talent...maybe not like Olympic medal level fast, but here we are." – Yared Nuguse
"Right now it's kind of hanging out on my lamp...I get to kind of look up at it and be like, hey, I'm a bronze medalist." – Yared Nuguse
He ran the mile fast so he could be first in line at McDonald's." – Mick Motley
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