Who wants to see Mikey Brannigan Make the Olympic Team?

I wish, but it's still a long shot. There are a handful of people that run 3:57 as a 19-year-old (college freshman) every year -- very few of them go on to make the US olympic team. When there are only 3 spots, you really have to be much better than 3:57 (more around 3:50-52 shape). That being said, his 3:57 was a huge improvement for him, so if he were to improve by that much again his chances would skyrocket.

Absolutely cheering for this kid's success. Making an Olympic team would be spectacular.

I agree that the odds are always long.

To paraphrase a line from the great mountain of (insightful) cliches that is Once a Runner: in order to make an Olympic team, you need to be not only very fast, but also enormously lucky.

Still, running 3:57 at age 19 bodes better for Mikey's chances than not running 3:57 at age 19, correct?

The kid runs tougher than almost anyone else I've ever seen. As a friend of mine who knew Mikey in HS once explained, "It's as though he doesn't understand pain. He just runs."

I feel like it's impossible to read or talk about Brannigan without some mention of his autism. So I have to ask: is autism a disadvantage in distance running? If so, why?

Sorry, I know that will sound like I'm hating, but I'm genuinely asking because we never just talk about Mike the runner, but it's always Mike the autistic runner, and I guess I don't understand why we always include that.

Again, not trying to hate. Brannigan is faster than I will ever be and I have incredible respect for someone who can run that fast.

spumkin wrote:

I feel like it's impossible to read or talk about Brannigan without some mention of his autism. So I have to ask: is autism a disadvantage in distance running? If so, why?

Sorry, I know that will sound like I'm hating, but I'm genuinely asking because we never just talk about Mike the runner, but it's always Mike the autistic runner, and I guess I don't understand why we always include that.

Again, not trying to hate. Brannigan is faster than I will ever be and I have incredible respect for someone who can run that fast.

I don't think so it would impede his distance running training (if it did, he wouldn't be doing as well as he is).

I think the media stresses it because it is what makes him different from any other athlete. I think it is helping remove some of the stigma about autism though. But since I do not have any real experience or exposure in the autism world, I could be flat out wrong.

I don't think the story has ever been that autism directly impairs Mikey's ability to adapt physiologically to endurance training.

But autism often precludes individuals from finding their way into the sport, or competing in it at such a high level, due to a variety of secondary effects.

What is remarkable is that a young man who has struggled in with the more mundane parts of life has achieved remarkable success in a sublime part of life.

It will be a great day WHEN Mikey makes the Olympic team.

I first learned about Mikey after watching an E:60 episode and it tore my heart apart at 1:31 when he was asked a simple question. Watch the clip if you haven't.

I think the world would cheer for this young man.

spumkin wrote:

I feel like it's impossible to read or talk about Brannigan without some mention of his autism.

Please leave the forum. Best for morans like you to keep their mouths shut.

Seven Point Five wrote:

I don't think the story has ever been that autism directly impairs Mikey's ability to adapt physiologically to endurance training.

But autism often precludes individuals from finding their way into the sport, or competing in it at such a high level, due to a variety of secondary effects.

What is remarkable is that a young man who has struggled in with the more mundane parts of life has achieved remarkable success in a sublime part of life.

Well said. These 'secondary effects' you refer to are incredibly difficult to negotiate. Unless you are very close to someone with autism, it's almost impossible to convey these challenges. Like living with someone who has alzheimers. What's the big deal? So they forget things.

Seven Point Five wrote:

The kid runs tougher than almost anyone else I've ever seen. As a friend of mine who knew Mikey in HS once explained, "It's as though he doesn't understand pain. He just runs."

Maybe Komen didn't understand pain either.

spumkin wrote:

I feel like it's impossible to read or talk about Brannigan without some mention of his autism. So I have to ask: is autism a disadvantage in distance running? If so, why?

Sorry, I know that will sound like I'm hating, but I'm genuinely asking because we never just talk about Mike the runner, but it's always Mike the autistic runner, and I guess I don't understand why we always include that.

Again, not trying to hate. Brannigan is faster than I will ever be and I have incredible respect for someone who can run that fast.

It doesn't seem to have any impact on his ability to race fast. Though we can't really know that.

In the past, it has seemed to impact on his ability to race well consistently. He had wildly inconsistent performances during his senior year of high school XC, for example. Again, we can't really know that.

Totally pulling for Mikey.

Yes, all *morons please leave the forum, including you. The poster was trying to bring up the point that people focus on the autism more than Mikey's accomplishments. So many articles about Mikey perpetuate the stigma that autism automatically puts him in an inferior category. Regardless if this is on purpose on not, its bad press to make everything seem like a barrier that has to be overcome for the sake of those with autism.

Run Doctor wrote:

It will be a great day WHEN Mikey makes the Olympic team.

I first learned about Mikey after watching an E:60 episode and it tore my heart apart at 1:31 when he was asked a simple question. Watch the clip if you haven't.

I think the world would cheer for this young man.

spumkin wrote:

I feel like it's impossible to read or talk about Brannigan without some mention of his autism. So I have to ask: is autism a disadvantage in distance running? If so, why?

Sorry, I know that will sound like I'm hating, but I'm genuinely asking because we never just talk about Mike the runner, but it's always Mike the autistic runner, and I guess I don't understand why we always include that.

Again, not trying to hate. Brannigan is faster than I will ever be and I have incredible respect for someone who can run that fast.

I think his autism actually helps him. Autistic people tend to fixate on activities and extremely concentrate. Once they go after something they don't give up.

I think his autism actually helps him. Autistic people tend to fixate on activities and extremely concentrate. Once they go after something they don't give up.

Yes! Precisely. That's why so many of our greatest elite athletes over the years (not just in running), are athletes with autism, just like Mikey.

Mike is more outgoing and personable than many elite athletes.

"I'm a person."

Swear to god - that always punches me in the gut. What a guy.

Focus and perseverance wrote:

spumkin wrote:

I feel like it's impossible to read or talk about Brannigan without some mention of his autism. So I have to ask: is autism a disadvantage in distance running? If so, why?

Sorry, I know that will sound like I'm hating, but I'm genuinely asking because we never just talk about Mike the runner, but it's always Mike the autistic runner, and I guess I don't understand why we always include that.

Again, not trying to hate. Brannigan is faster than I will ever be and I have incredible respect for someone who can run that fast.

I think his autism actually helps him. Autistic people tend to fixate on activities and extremely concentrate. Once they go after something they don't give up.

Huh? Distance running takes very little concentration at all. It is such a basic activity that nearly anyone can do it. That is part of what makes it a compelling competitive sport.

I'm rooting for Mikey big time! It feels so good to have a new American running hero, one who is such a nice guy and sportsman, one whom I have virtually no suspicious is taking PEDs.

Mikey inspires me on days like today when it's snowing but I promised my running partner I'd be up for our time trial. Also when I'm dealing with depression I'm reminded how much running helps people all over the world feel better about themselves.

If Mikey makes it to Tokyo (and the marathon had a Rio-style path next to it) I'm buying a plane ticket!