Yared Nuguse never imagined himself as a professional runner, let alone an Olympic medalist. At 14, his athletic experience consisted of a spot on the high school bowls team, and his career ambitions focused on becoming a dentist. But life often takes unexpected turns, revealing hidden talents in the most unlikely places.
As a teenager, Nuguse showed little interest in sports. He considered himself "scrawny" and had no particular drive to compete. Everything changed when he sprinted around the track during a high school mile race, aiming for an A in PE. His performance caught the eye of his teacher, who saw untapped potential.
"He was quite convincing, fortunately, and he got me to join the team," Nuguse recalls. "From then on, I just fell in love with running."
After displaying early promise in Louisville, Kentucky, Nuguse ran for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, winning an NCAA title in the 1,500 meters in 2019. From there, his career took off, earning him the nickname "America’s accidental champion."
"It’s been a crazy journey, one I never expected," Nuguse says. "But I’m really glad I gave it a chance because my life would be completely different otherwise."
Even now, Nuguse struggles to see himself as a natural runner. He describes his "long, windy stride" and admits he never considered himself particularly sporty. However, his accomplishments prove otherwise. At the Paris Olympics, he secured a bronze medal in the 1,500m, finishing behind compatriot Cole Hocker and Britain’s Josh Kerr in a dramatic sprint to the finish. A month later, he defeated both Kerr and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen at a Diamond League meet in Zurich, cementing his place among the sport’s elite.
Men’s middle-distance running has entered an exciting era, and Nuguse stands at its center. Last month, he defended his indoor mile title at the Millrose Games with a world-record time of 3:46.63. Days later, Ingebrigtsen reclaimed the record by more than a second, but Nuguse remained unfazed.
"He’s really good at breaking records and elevating the sport," Nuguse says about Ingebrigtsen. "It’s a little bit of a bummer, but records are meant to be broken."
Unlike Kerr and Ingebrigtsen, who often exchange competitive barbs, Nuguse brings a relaxed and humble demeanor to the track. He openly acknowledges that running is not his life’s main calling. Outside of the sport, he remains passionate about dentistry and plans to return to school before turning 30. He also enjoys caring for his pet tortoise, Tyro, chronicling its hibernation cycle on Instagram.
Like Tyro, Nuguse knows when to slow down. He prides himself on staying calm under pressure, even in the most high-stakes races.
"I focus on what I can control," he says. "Not every moment of my life needs to be about running or the next race. I’ve always been chill and go with the flow."
Yet beneath his laid-back attitude lies a fierce competitor. His high school races may have started as a means to an end, but his drive to win has only intensified.
"I never saw myself as insanely competitive," he admits. "At first, I thought none of this really mattered—just running on a track. But every race, I instinctively took seriously. Over time, that competitive spirit grew."
Dathan Ritzenhein, Nuguse’s coach at the Colorado-based On Athletics Club (OAC), recognizes his unshakable determination.
"Yared’s tougher than almost anybody," Ritzenhein says. "When he wants it, he’s the ultimate competitor."
Since joining OAC in 2022, Nuguse has solidified his place as one of the world’s top mile and 1,500m runners. His Olympic bronze medal only strengthened his confidence, and he now believes he can beat anyone on any given day.
The upcoming months will provide plenty of opportunities to prove that. Nuguse has committed to racing in the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track, a new league launched by sprinting legend Michael Johnson. There, he will face Hocker, Kerr, and other top competitors across four meets. In September, he will take on the world’s best at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
"I’m in a position to win," he says. "I always entered races knowing I could win, but now, with this bronze medal, I know I’m top-three in the world. Now, it’s about earning a gold."
Despite his growing accolades, medals and records have never been his ultimate goal. His first rule has always been to enjoy running while he can. After the next Olympic cycle in 2028, dentistry will likely take center stage.
"It’s always what I wanted to do," Nuguse says. "I almost went straight to dental school instead of running professionally, but running knocked a little louder. I’d rather end on my own terms. I have other things I want to do, and I will do them. But first, I’ll enjoy running as much as I can."
As long as he continues to love the sport, Nuguse’s career will keep soaring. With world championship honors in sight, the question remains: How much more can he achieve before hanging up his spikes?
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.