Just watched it and see exactly what you mean. His arm carriage has the "swing" that most female runners (including elite pros) have; I can't think of any other male pros who run like that.
I would disagree on your first point though: obviously some won't be "out", so to speak, but there would be more than 1 (if that) in every main professional sport. But for women it's the exact opposite
You may be on to something. He has been training and hanging around with Nikki Hiltz a lot this year. Hilts posts him on her social media A LOT as a work out partner. Last year he was training with Abdi and Drew Bosley.
He needs to go back to training with the boys. He has Abdi, Drew and Luis Grijalva still in Flagstaff. If he wants to be the best he needs to train with those dudes. Nikki Hiltz is a bad influence.
Nico's most recent Instagram posts show him training with Abdihamid, Caleb, Cael, and Colin, along with one post where he rabbited Nikki through some 200s. Drew is injured, and Luis is in Europe.
I think this talk of runners' strides being feminine or masculine in style is some mumbo-jumbo, but to add some useful information to this thread: Nico has stated in a couple different interviews that he has been experiencing "mechanical problems" since the end of cross country season. You can check his post-race interviews from Friday or listen to his recent episode on the Trackstaa podcast to hear him discuss it in his own words. It sounds like the mechanical issues have limited his training in the past several months, but that he has gradually been getting it under better control.
Northern Arizona's Nico Young finishes 8th in the 5,000m at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTjSubscribe...
He doesn't give details about the injury (and he doesn't have to, as it's his body and his health), but it does indeed sound like he hasn't been firing on all cylinders for either track season this year. I don't personally notice a difference in his current body composition compared to years past, but I suppose that's harder for a fan looking from the outside to comment on meaningfully. In any case, I think it's better to use the information that Nico directly shares (verbally and on socials) when discussing him, rather than wildly speculating about the impact that sexuality may have on running form.
he's had a growth spurt and his hair is much longer. i suspect that's what makes him appear to run differently. also he's coming off an injury so he was more labored than I've seen him in other 5000's. I'm sure the humidity didn't help.
I actually like how he ran the 5000 - he knew his best chance was to break the field and run away with it - knowing if he stayed in the pack he wouldn't be able to outkick the top runners. takes guts to try that. it didn't work, but he came there to compete. great mindset.