The Bowerman Track Club is a Portland, Oregon based club providing running opportunities for youth, elite, masters and professional runners in the Portland area.
Maybe it will free him up for the one thing anyone knows him for: social media battles with high school kids. No matter what he does for the rest of his life that will be the only thing that lives long in the memory.
It's amazing that Lopez Lamong and Leo Manzano were hired by Nike around the same time/age, but Leo was cut about a decade ago as the reigning World Champion. And Nike has somehow remained loyal to Lomong to this day.
Maybe it will free him up for the one thing anyone knows him for: social media battles with high school kids. No matter what he does for the rest of his life that will be the only thing that lives long in the memory.
It is too bad he has not been a better role model.
I just listened to that podcast he did with the archery guy and thought he was fantastically interesting, full of humour and great stories. I think he'll do just fine in his life and I hope he starts his own podcast as he must know everybody.
It's amazing that Lopez Lamong and Leo Manzano were hired by Nike around the same time/age, but Leo was cut about a decade ago as the reigning World Champion. And Nike has somehow remained loyal to Lomong to this day.
Leo's contract with Nike ended in 2013; he wasn't cut - they just couldn't reach a deal. My guess is that Lomong's contract had different timing and he may have been mid-contract when he lulled in 2015-2017. And then maybe renewed as things picked back up (?)
Leo ran well after his Silver, but ultimately average for his career. In 2013 his bests were 1:46/3:33 + WC semis. In 2014 - 1:46, 3:30 in Monaco and 2015 1:45, 3:36 + WC Final. 2016 was the road block that hurt his future chances. He ran 1:47 and 3:36 but only managed 4th at USA's.
Lopez also ran 1:46/3:34 with a WC semi in 2013, 7:39/13:07 in 2014, but then mediocre performances in 2015-2017, before coming back as US 10,000m champ in 2018 and 2019, running 13:00 and 27:04 in the WC final.
It's amazing that Lopez Lamong and Leo Manzano were hired by Nike around the same time/age, but Leo was cut about a decade ago as the reigning World Champion. And Nike has somehow remained loyal to Lomong to this day.
The dropped meb too and then he probably became the most famous runner in America for a short while.
People always seem to forget: These athletes are not making the same amounts of money. They're at-will employees who can demand raises and who can get their pay cut; they can choose to find employment elsewhere. It's not your high school track team making cuts.
It's amazing that Lopez Lamong and Leo Manzano were hired by Nike around the same time/age, but Leo was cut about a decade ago as the reigning World Champion. And Nike has somehow remained loyal to Lomong to this day.
Manzano wasn't cut, he didn't think Nike's offer was befitting an Olympic silver medalist so he went to Hoka.