Leo Manzano has retired - Official Leo Manzano appreciation thread

CONGRATULATIONS LEONEL ON A GREAT CAREER! YOU GIVE ME HOPE AS A SHORT RUNNER TO EXCEL AT THIS SPORT. IT IS ALWAYS FANTASTIC TO WATCH YOU RACE AND YOU WERE THE FIRST FAMOUS RUNNER TO HAVE MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE

LOTS OF LOVE !!!!

Always exciting to watch. Incredibly polite and appreciative in person. Thank you Leo. Enjoy the next chapter of your life.

The best Manzano moment will be in the future, when he inherits the Olympic Gold after Makh finally gets busted.

Spoke with him at the Eugene airport after the Rio Oly Trials.

A great representative of the sport.

Didn't realize how tiny he is, but obviously tough as a gaucho.

He was a man of great character. Always appealing to his fans. He was SO consistent at the US Championships. And had some very trademark accomplishments, most notably his 2012 Olympic Silver Medal and his 3:30 in Monaco in 2014. Leo, if you're reading this, good job man. You're tough as nails and always gave 100% in your races, no matter the fitness. You had a very good career and your fans are proud of you. Stay healthy.

always loved watching him, not surprised he's made it official, been a couple years since he was really getting after it.

incredible tactician. probably the clean Olympic champ. probably the fastest ever over the last 30m of a 1500m.

but what do i know? wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85AZgX3bpiI

Jesus, that was awesome. And I'd never seen that race. Thanks for posting it.

tally wrote:

NCAA champs 2005, Sacramento. Sitting on the back stretch on a lovely evening for a full session of track. One great race after another.

When the 1500m came by on the last lap, looked like Chris Lukezic had it with a 2:54 1200m split. Then on the last turn there was this flash of orange moving at a rate of speed that you can only really appreciate when watching live.

I'd never heard of Leo Manzano before that. He went on to show he was more than a flash.

Bryan Lindsay of BYU, who finished second place, put the race on youtube last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrzfih_Izq0

Whoops. *This* is the clip I meant to respond to. That was fantastic. Thanks for posting it.

No one had more heart than the lion. ❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?

Over Your Head wrote:

No, he couldn’t have represented Mexico since he had US citizenship. Last I checked, the letters on his singlet said “USA”. Ruben Navarrette put it best: “It’s illogical to show your allegiance to one country while demanding accommodation from another.” Leo even came out and said “representing two countries USA and Mexico”. The Olympics are about being part of a team and representing your country with sportsmanship and national pride, it’s not about his personal grievances, his opinions, or his individualism. You and Leo both missed the mark here I’m afraid.

You must get so triggered on St Patrick’s day.

LetsRun.com wrote:

Chris Chavez has the story for SI.

https://www.si.com/olympics/2019/07/28/leo-manzano-announces-retirement-track-and-field-silver-medalist

Share your favorite Manzano memories below.

During the race (US trials), I was wondering what happened to him.

Over Your Head wrote:

No, he couldn’t have represented Mexico since he had US citizenship. Last I checked, the letters on his singlet said “USA”. Ruben Navarrette put it best: “It’s illogical to show your allegiance to one country while demanding accommodation from another.” Leo even came out and said “representing two countries USA and Mexico”. The Olympics are about being part of a team and representing your country with sportsmanship and national pride, it’s not about his personal grievances, his opinions, or his individualism. You and Leo both missed the mark here I’m afraid.

Over my head?

I gave you the answer in my post. I stated curlers in Saint Paul, MN often participate in Olympics for the country of one's grandparents. Only so many Minnesota curlers are able to participate for U.S.A. Curlers who practice on Selby Ave. in Saint Paul participate for several nations. Many are Minnesotans. All or nearly all who curl in Saint Paul were born in U.S.A. I assume Leo Manzano's grandparents were Mexican citizens. MANZANO COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN OLYMPICS FOR MEXICO.

Learn before you attack.

bef it wrote:

Over Your Head wrote:

No, he couldn’t have represented Mexico since he had US citizenship. Last I checked, the letters on his singlet said “USA”. Ruben Navarrette put it best: “It’s illogical to show your allegiance to one country while demanding accommodation from another.” Leo even came out and said “representing two countries USA and Mexico”. The Olympics are about being part of a team and representing your country with sportsmanship and national pride, it’s not about his personal grievances, his opinions, or his individualism. You and Leo both missed the mark here I’m afraid.

You must get so triggered on St Patrick’s day.

Or any day where there are minorities in the vicinity.

Leo must have been the last person to know that he retired.

I get your point, but to run around the Olympic stadium with the Mexican flag was a poor choice on his part. Probably cost him over $100,000, and lost him some fans for sure.

Can anyone find and post the flotrsck watch party they had for Leo 2012 Olympic Games watching him go from 8 to silver and having the flohouse ERUPT at having one of their own get a distance medal??!!!

Please please find!!!

Met him at the '16 Olympic Trials at a bar in Eugene after he got 4th and just missed. Incredibly nice guy, and he just seemed content but disappointed with what he'd accomplished. Was an open book talking about his career and his emotions at the time.

Always worth admiring and giving kudos to big meet runners. Dude is a champion. Nails.

He'll remember the medals while so many peers just remember a good time at a small meet.

i wonder why....