El G was one of the few all-time greats that was truly humble. I think his fall in Atlanta 1996, and his narrow loss in 2000 humbled him in a lot of ways. Also, as he was a devout Muslim, he most likely adhered to Islam's teachings on humility.
He’s won Olympic and WC gold medals and doesn’t need to do anything at all. No other American has come even close to winning gold medals in both the 1500m and 5000, yet some people are offended by how he comes across in an interview? Maybe we could find a nice guy American distance runner that doesn’t win gold medals, to root for.
I'm not offended, I just view actions like that as immature. You can be fast while also being a bit immature.
Post game interviews with guys that play in the major team sports must irritate you to no end, but few fans of those sports care what any athlete say and only about whether their team won.
Hocker’s win in the Paris 1500m was the greatest performance at that distance in Olympic history. How could coming across in a post race interview as maybe being immature, possibly be relevant? Are you a speech class teacher or a sports fan?
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He doesn’t seem arrogant. He seems like every other semi-autistic runner nerd. That was just awkward.
Yeah, but he at least is pretty down to earth. He gives simple interviews and seems like someone the everyman can actually relate to. Grant Fisher and Ethan Strand sound like politicians on the campaign trail when they interview. Graham Blanks is like that too. They are too cerebral and overly detailed and don’t sound natural at all. Everything with them sounds like a rehearsed speech. Cole seems like your cool hippie cousin you can open up a beer with.
God forbid we have athletes like Blanks, Fisher and Strand who have brains in their head and use an occasional big word. They sound much more natural and un-rehearsed than anyone else on the circuit with the exception of Sha'carrie, who would really benefit from rehearsing a bit more.
I heard the interview Hocker on the Podium podcast with Hannah England. He came across really well, he's a likable guy. It maybe helped that he was talking to someone he probably knows a little from the circuit as England is the best commentator around right now, and she's a former world medallist herself. He's kind of an awkward guy, a bit nerdy looking, but he's possibly the best racer in the world right now between 1500 and 5000 and he should carry some confidence
How can he be the best 1500 racer when he hasn’t won a single 1500 race since 2024?
If you lose all year in your main event, you tend to lose arrogant privileges
The only ones that count are the last races of the season (caveat: not 5th ave mile last ones).
Hocker has lost every 1500/Mile race he has entered since Paris 2024, including all of 2025. Snowflakes is right that arrogance is not a privilege for him.
Track is a hard sport to be arrogant in because you don't have a team to bail you out. Distance running over the course of history has always been more cerebral. All the really cocky performers fell on hard times.......Steve Ovett was the most arrogant, but by 83 he was being beaten and lost all his arrogance. Jakob was almost that way, until he was humbled and the same with Kerr a lot of talking before the world champs....... Hocker can enjoy this time, but he will too be humbled. When Grant beat him last year at MIllrose he was reduced to tears. Track is just a damn tough sport because esp in the distances and middle distances you will be humbled.
Grant Fisher and Ethan Strand sound like politicians on the campaign trail when they interview. Graham Blanks is like that too. They are too cerebral and overly detailed and don’t sound natural at all.
What politicians are you talking about??
I haven't heard one that sounds remotely cerebral for years. Very much including the POTUS.
Made a sleep sign after finishing ahead of Kerr, is this bad for the sport?
His post race interview with JG was more arrogant, saying he is fit enough to run close to the mile WR. I'm always suspect of people who talk about WR shape. The only people who break WR's are those who just come out and get the job done, like Hoey, Jakob, SML, Kipyegon.
Well, after he did kind of say that jakob buried it with the 3:45, and insinuated it would be a monumental task. Maybe he's more thinking of the American record. Though im sure he believes in himself to get the WR if everything is right
funny thing is, Jakob probably cost himself a couple tenths because he was slightly focused on breaking the 1500 record en route, not enough for a full kick, but a little more than probably ideal for nailing the mile perfectly.