Cole Hocker Breaks Down Epic 2024 Olympic 1500m Final To Win Gold In

Chris Chavez and Eric Jenkins sit down with Cole Hocker, the new Olympic 1500-meter champion.
Cole takes us through his unforgettable race at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he outmaneuvered world champion Josh Kerr and Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a dramatic final lap. He shares insights into his training, the crucial moments of the race and what it feels like to bring home gold for Team USA.
We also discuss his journey from making his first Olympic team while at Oregon and growing on the global stage and where he sees the men's 1500m going from here.
Join us to hear firsthand from one of America's brightest stars in middle-distance running and learn what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
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[@sarahsakas3362]

Cole's dad was my classmate in high school. He was also a good runner...ran cross country. His dad was one of the nicest kids in our class and Cole's demeanor reminds me very much of his father. I couldn't be happier for them.

[@jupitercrash777]

Love hearing stories like that

[@eastsidepb8139]

Did you bang him?

[@jimbo91262]

Boy his interviews are so much fun to listen to. The honesty, humbleness, and humor are so refreshing. Bravo Cole Hocker.

[@CitiusMag]

Cole is the man!

[@gj1234567899999]

I showed my son this race since it was so inspiring. I wish Cole all the best in his endeavors and wish him all the wealth and accolades he deserves.

[@SethJCaudill]

After this he is gonna sign the Declaration of Independence.

[@alexandermiller2094]

😂

[@gibbie63]

@@SethJCaudill no!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@corneliustwentyfour7562]

Hilarious 😂

[@YogSoth]

💀😂

[@DrProfX]

💯 😂

[@bruce8554]

Hats off to a perfect interview-allowing Cole to express himself in that gentle, humble way. The example and implication of your manner and work ethic will produce a whole host of young athletes just itching to emulate your grace and achievements. Well done to you all, and Yared as well... birds of a feather.

[@CitiusMag]

Loved that we had the chance to chat with him while the memories are fresh.

[@user-th9jr6dg2q]

You guys allowed Cole to speak. That's an interview. Got his view, with input to open things & to allow him to flow. Star 🌟 😊

[@patricklemire9278]

The most amazing thing is he got blocked lost momentum and then DROPPED THE HAMMER. I’ve never seen anything like that before. To get on the gas twice off that pace. Mind boggling

[@johnmartin7158]

He could have got close to the world record if he wasn’t boxed in.

[@jkdure]

@@johnmartin7158 a 3 sec pb makes me wonder and gets suspicious.

[@cjcurtis8944]

@@jkdurehe hasn’t had the opportunity to get pushed like that to know his ceiling. The longer distance racing really developed his strength and that was a newer strategy for him. It’s not that surprising really considering the circumstances of the race itself.

[@John-wx3zn]

I was so excited to see him do that I was shaking.

[@billricheter5678]

@@jkdureno, if you have followed him you could see this coming. Slow steady improvement. I thought he would run 3:27. Just needed to stay in contact. He is quick as well as strong. Tbh I thought he was performing a bit under his potential

[@presleyelisememorial]

One of the very greatest races ever run, congratulations Cole, your hard work and determination and belief to get to this position are incredible and inspirational

[@distanceman8147]

This Olympic moment will be with me 20 years from now. Congratulations Cole. You did the damn thing!

[@SuperAbrahamE]

I still can't believe it; this race was legendary! I can't wait to look back on this race every year!

[@jupitercrash777]

Greatest 1500m ever

[@John-wx3zn]

Making a movie out of this.

[@decafmocha211]

Congratulations Cole Hocker Olympic Champion !!!

[@1105pitbull]

I loved this for Cole as I have been watching track and field for years. Also happy for Yared. He nearly (so darn close) got the silver so there should be some really fun competition between these two in the future. Now they both realize what they can accomplish.

[@p38cobra]

Way to go Cole. This was as exciting as Dave Wottle 800 win 72 Olympics. You’ve made history so let us enjoy your dedication to running. Would like to know how much and how often you run. WHAT AN EPIC WIN!!!! Many Congratulations 🎈🍾🎉🎊!!!!!!!!

[@1972dsrai]

That was a crazy race. Her wasn’t even in the equation before the race with most not looking beyond Kerr and Ingebrigsten for gold and silver. He showed amazing speed to outrun Kerr.

[@chrisd6736]

This was a perfect interview. Absolute joy to listen to. Well done everyone!

[@CitiusMag]

Thank you!

[@savell234]

Absolutely love his reaction about his 12:58 5000 neter race in LA. Everyone talks about him being sub 13, but he was absolutely destroyed by the top of that field. He totally owned that in this interview. I have to totally respect his honesty in that. And we all see where that race and the rest of the year got him!

[@Bweyg]

I mean to be fair sub 13 for a 5k is absolutely world class. Let's not pretend that everyone can break 13 in the 5k and it's really not that hard. Sure it's not world RECORD, but it's still WAY faster than what most people will ever be for even 800 meters, let alone a whole 5k. There's too many of these "yeah you ran a sub 5 minute mile but it's not good because it's not in the 0.0000000000000000001% of the people" comments.

[@YogSoth]

I already can’t wait for the 1500 world championship next year, and even LA in 2028. The 1500 is just a great distance anyway in terms of excitement, but add in the personalities and dynamics between racers and it really makes this race the marquee event in athletics for the moment. The contrast between the brash personalities of Kerr and Ingebrigsten, and the genuinely likable Nuguse and Hocker make for fantastic sporting drama. Can’t forget about Kessler at just 20, and there is sure to be another couple of contenders in the coming 4 years. I’d be stunned if Guerrouj’s record doesn’t fall in the next 4 years. God I love sports!

[@brokenrulerlabs]

Cole has matured into a veteran runner. Nice to see.🎉

[@graemehill]

Hearing about athletes' inability to remember what happened in a race is fascinating to me. In cycling there is a common thing where particularly in very difficult races where a rider performs above expectations they do interviews after where they recall the race and it turns out to be WAY OFF. Their memory is completely wrong. Makes me wonder if there's some special mental state people get into when they are fatigued but mentally fully in the zone that interrupts memory formation. From a non-american: congrats to Cole Hocker, that was maybe the best 1500 I've ever seen.

[@laraluna9365]

@@graemehill I’d be interested in learning more about it. Sounds really interesting.

[@laurainthehaute918]

The flow state.

[@georgec2894]

Has happened to me. The day after I always feel much more fatigue than usual too… mental and physical

[@Eric-lx8hp]

Maybe due to the immensity of pain

[@perdue93]

Back when I used to run cross country, I would sort of black out towards the middle to end of the race. I would finish but I wouldnt be able to remember the details of the course towards the end.

[@CUZdeathwins]

i really think he has WR potential. has the best kick ive ever seen and considering how many times he was out of position and had to alter his stride that race, he couldve gone a lot faster. that jab in the back of ingebrigtsen going into the last 100 was so badass man, basically saying go faster or get out my way

[@kristofferak7728]

Agree! Give him a great pacer and he for sure can run sub 3:27

[@DJG37S]

@@kristofferak7728 No this is false. Cole could have easily broke 3:27 if it wasn't for Jakob, cole was moving at the 200 meter mark, and Jakob decided to move back inside which caused cole to stumble a bit, we all saw cole final 100 meter kick and without that slight stumble he could have potentially set a world record. You do not want a pacer because what Jakob did was essentially what kicked him a pacer would have ran the first 400 in about the same time Jakob did which was 54 seconds, and at the 800 meters ran a about 1:53 this was nearly 5 seconds above the world record pace, so the first 800 METERS was STUPID fast thanks to Jakob. Cole stayed a little behind the back just keeping them within distance and we all saw what happened next. Once again this was dude to Jakob going stupid fast, to battle Josh Kerr.

[@XxTR1D]

@@DJG37SThey did not run a 1:43 800. I don’t know where you got that from, but that’s an impressive 800 time… You wrote a whole essay about misinformation.

[@DJG37S]

@@XxTR1D Correct I was a typo, mean't to say 1:53 but besides that nothing was misinformation. Jakob ran an unpaced stupid fast race the first 800 meters.

[@7agneskickingbird7]

@@DJG37SCole Hocker ran his last 300m in 39.65, his 1200m split was 2:48.00. The world record of 3:26.00 was never in danger after the pace slowed on the second lap when Jakob split 1:51.3-1:51.4. In order for Hocker to have broken 3:26.00 off his 2:48.00 1200m time, he’d have needed to run his final 300m in under 38 seconds. His final 300m in 100m split times were 13.3, 13.3 and 13.0 last 100m. He hit 1400m in 3:14.6 - 3:14.7. To break 3:26.00 he’d have to run his last 100m in 11.3. You really think that was happening? At most he was slowed a few tenths by Jakob obstructing him and was prevented from running 3:27.2 or 3:27.3. He also had the luxury of a pace maker in Jakob for 1400m. I’m not sure he’ll ever run faster than his current 3:27.65 time in all honesty.

[@avoiceinthechoir5791]

Watching the Olympics, I thought this race was one and done. Then I saw the men's 400 and the men's steeplechase. Whoa!

[@CalvinHikes]

I just continue to be so happy for Cole Hocker, he's been a gamer for awhile now. Ran such an awesome race.

[@draguts]

Such great questions and insightful interviews. Only watched 2 but will be watching more. Wish more sports interviews were like this.

[@christopherlerude4]

After the first minute of this I started thinking of the great runner Max Truex. When I ran at USC for 4 years I learned all about Max. He used to run so hard that he would basically black out. It’s as if he had no pain threshold. It’s almost like he would leave his physical state. He is a former NCAA D1 cross country champion and an Olympian. Runners today seem to be pushing beyond what is humanly possible. I’ll admit I didn’t have it! Be safe athletes.

[@jsb937]

Best interview in track and field. All coaches should have their athletes listen to this. Cole Hocker did it. He believed in himself and didnt have to brag about it.

[@charlesdee63]

What a great interview. Congratulations Cole. You gave a gold medal performance in this interview Thank you for a glimpse into the thought process and mind of a champion. To explain and expose the barriers that someone has to dismantle to get better and faster were very interesting and helpful to younger athletes. I hope that young athletes watch it

[@CitiusMag]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sunnydays5581]

I had him as one of a number of possible disruptors, and boy, he didn't disappoint. A blinding inside kick down the home straight at 3.27 pace, He deserves it , humble guy. Poor Nuguse, ran out of track

[@adohmnail6445]

Outstanding win, and i am an Ingebrigston fan. You ran the heck out of that for a welld deserved win.

[@alexgan5483]

Congrats Cole!!! Well deserved

[@ne0n_idiot143]

that race is genuinely one of the most excitingly perfect races I have ever seen in sports

[@tombryant52jumpscoach]

I love what he said at the 7-plus-minute mark of the interview about making himself say out loud that he could win a medal and the subconscious mind working on that. Great stuff; I have to remember that.

[@MelodyMaker]

Important point he makes about closing gaps. He recognizes that had he not closed gaps, he wouldn't have been positioned at the end. Nothing more satisfying than to see the quiet longer shot stride to glory!

[@wren1114]

Cole’s so good at expressing his experiences. Wonderful. Makes good interviewing easy. Thx! Amazing race!! 🎉

[@josearvizu3098]

MUCHÍSIMAS FELICIDADES COLE HOCKER, ÉSE ABRAZO CON TUS HERMANOS CUANDO LES DAS UN ABRAZO Y TE ENTREGAN LA BANDERA DE TU PAÍS VERDADERAMENTE MUY CONMOVEDOR, SALUDOS DESDE POZA RICA VERACRUZ MÉXICO.

[@Kalanimauimusic]

Great interview, the BEST!! You both were so well prepared with insightful, thoughtful questions-questions I had in my own head! Congrats Cole from a Duck and to the both of you for an awesome interview!!!

[@CitiusMag]

Go Ducks!

[@ElizECraig]

SO PROUD to be a Hoosier!! Cole and Yared made us so proud. Wonderful young men and exceptional competitors. Cannot wait to watch what's in store for them down the road.

[@duncanwcraig9668]

An incredible win - to beat Jakob and Josh - l loved this race. Cole Hocker, Olympic champion!

[@KillaKam922]

3 years ago I commented Cole Hocker will break the world record 3 years ago and got laughed at ... Well done my friend, this moment might be just as great!

[@jkdure]

a 3 sec pb makes mu suspicious. Anyway: without Ingebrigtsen as "Pacer" he would not be close to that time

[@MarkLL1961]

Dammnnn, I saw a comment that Jakob opened the lane so that Hocker could go after Kerr! I love that idea!

[@geraldgarcia6746]

no way that was the mentality lmao

[@user-th9jr6dg2q]

That front group was rolling!! Cole had eyes 👀 on the race gold ✨️ medal 🏅 👌 hunt!! Great, great 👍 race!! Salute Mr Hocker!! You beat some field!!

[@AlwaysTrain]

Congratulations champion 👍

[@1105pitbull]

Talk about nerves, can you imagine how the 16 year old runner felt on the 4x400 qualifying race?? OMG what a crazy experience that he will never forget and will certainly give him added confidence as he grows into the sport.

[@Johnson-xx9pm]

Excellent interview and such a nice guy. Another ingredient to the 1500m madness.

[@joshuapatrick682]

The execution of that last leg after having the door slammed on him was incredible! Congrats!

[@andys2856]

Congrats Cole, you deserved it.

[@ytnsanw]

You really need an Olympic gold medal to be able to rock the Ichadbod Crane ponytail like that. Seems like a decent guy and ran a great race.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

He woke up Sleepy Hollow.

[@Ellen-hy4zj]

Congratulations Cole, you are amazing!

[@laurainthehaute918]

He was in flow state last 100 perhaps. The runner and the running are one. Bravo, Champion!

[@John-wx3zn]

I hope Jesus Christ always takes care of Cole Hocker. He is a wonderful person. If he was being timed for his personality, he be at 3:20. Thank you Mr. Hocker. And thank you nice interviewers.

[@andrewmill5564]

It's worth mentioning he ran an American record and the 7th fastest 1500m all time! It's also worth mentioning and would have been good to hear about how he felt about Ingebritsen taking out the race at sub-world record pace and front running the entire thing aside from the finish.

[@LeadershipAlliance]

INSANELY GREAT guy, victory, vibe and interview. THANK YOU! 🙏

[@timjacobsen3141]

Hocker vs Fisher in a race. Fisher has a better PR in the 3000. Hocker has a better PR in the 1500. Split the distance of the race down the middle. They should race 2250 meters together.

[@lanceallenmcginnis1105]

My favorite event of the Olympics

[@georgehenehan123]

Watching the bell ring Cole was running 5th with some space between each man in front of him. He had to make that distance up running outside through the curves. He burned a lot of matches to get to the front, amazing he still had another surge left going to the line.

[@renewd]

He seeks like a really good dude. Amazing race.

[@jellyrcw12]

It was very impressive!!

[@staticdlow9963]

HOCKER!!! HOCKER!!! HOCKER!!! 🇺🇸🥇🏆

[@johnmartin7158]

The greatest.

[@trexinvert]

Congrats to Cole. Experience, conditioning, teammates and circumstances. -teammates Kessler and Neguse kept tight pack for laps 2 and 3. Allows Cole to relax and Kessler doing great job blocking runners behind. -Cole strategy or reflexively trying a double inside pass on turn and then straight -Inge going too fast from the get go. Just hanging on in the final straight. -Kerr going wide to Inge and Inge trying to block leaving inside open for Cole -Cole vs Kerr for the final kick

[@yeahbaby3239]

Awesome interview! Ben Thomas’ stock is going up! Payday for Hocker!

[@user-th9jr6dg2q]

The 'What next?' question is very interesting 🤔 The pre race insight was interesting too.

[@koreystephens]

Olympic RECORD HOLDER

[@andreasbergmann8780]

This was possible with a pacemaker start to finish that it. Great athlete 🤜🏾

[@jasongrubb3350]

"Powered by Asics". Cole Hocker: "Look at my Nikes" Lol!

[@akarilotube]

This cat is awesome!

[@johnharding7650]

Thanks for the nice sit down interview

[@sschwen8050]

I can’t believe you guys got Cole to talk that much.

[@georgestraz2984]

Well done!!!!

[@aprenderlife]

Has anybody asked him what he would have done if the gap did not open?

[@Cleangrean]

Cole look sharp on that track

[@danielnoah8664]

Cole, what about an all out 1500 attempt? Not sure what you have in plan but you are less than 2 seconds off of one of the most heralded records in the books. I hope that you at least take a shot and just see what happens. You never know.

[@robertfield4103]

Greatest 1500 m of all time. 4 of top 25 all time best times occurred in this race. Just think, runners holding positions 22, 23 , 24, and 25 got knocked of this list in less than 3-1/2 minutes.

[@algiardello]

Fantastic race, but don’t overlook 2004, when El Guerrouj got passed by Lagat in the final 100m but managed to pull back ahead.

[@kennethmooreiii5509]

USA!!!

[@WildSatoriForest]

Cole Hocker, Noah Lyles, Quincy Hall, Steph Curry.

[@userten4340]

Jakob could've blocked him in the last 50m ...but he didn´t because he prefered Cole winning the gold than Kerr ...I have no proof but neither doubts about it 😄and also gave away the bronze to avoid the podium goldless. Kerr was very happy at the end, but just for beating Jakob 😂

[@iang8169]

Totally agree . if ji stays on the inside Cole has no inside lane . as they turn the last corner j.I blocks Cole off from an inside run but as soon as Kerr passes him ,j.i slides over and gives Cole an inside run ,giving him the opportunity to win . if j.i and Kerr are neck and neck in the final sprint then j.i stays inside and Kerr is right next to him so Cole would have had to go 3 wide to get open

[@stalin1909]

I think you’re right actually.good analysis

[@marktoner1625]

Wow, what a silly take. Watch the race: Hocker was clearly surging while Jakub was fading. Watch the darn tape. Also, soooo many runners wander right in the last 100m, and Jakub was no different. Hocker found another gear. Frankly, Nuguse would have easily won the silver if he'd had another 5-10 meters. He waited too long. But I don't understand this odd obsession with Jakub. He's very good in a rabbited race but he's show time and again he cannot win the big, wide-open races.

[@iang8169]

@@marktoner1625 yes hocker was surging but he got cut off by j.i around the last turn and if he'd stayed there hocker would have been boxed in and had to go 3 wide around j.i and Kerr. Could he have won going 3 wide? Who knows . No one knows why j.i gave Cole an inside lane at the final sprint so it's speculation but it could have been because he didn't want Kerr to win or it could have been simply because he got careless

[@DJG37S]

This is 100% false, Jakob could give a care about Cole, Jakob's biggest enemy was Kerr. Hence why he was trying to do everything to pushing him to the side in the final 200 meters, and in the final 100 meters Jakob was trying to move Kerr further down the lanes because them two were battling the entire race, and the rest is history. If you know anything about racing heck even car racing, you will know that this happens too. When you have a #1 public enemy in car racing and it comes down to the final stretch you try keep on pushing them wide but in the process you open up the inside lane, this is also how red bull lost too 2 years at 4 years at Monaco

[@oldeenglish64]

What a bad a-s.. Great race.!!

[@olasonn]

He didn't outmaneuver Jakob and Josh, they outmaneuvered each other.

[@biobossx99]

Dude opened up his inner fifth gate to win

[@yoboisam5803]

Hocker 🎉🎉🎉

[@philipvitkus2109]

A truly historic moment. How silly. Every moment, every event, is historic.

[@pwolfi10]

Anybody know what kind of shoes he's rocking?

[@runningathletics]

does anybody has his dad's reaction after his win!? :O Thanks!

[@DJG37S]

Jakob setting the crazy fast pace the first 2 laps helped out Cole because basically Jakob and Josh were just battling the first 2 laps and the final lap. Cole just sat back and watched those to wear themselves out with the dumb face early pace and cole out kicked both of them. If cole didn't get boxed in my Jakob the last 200 meters I am 100% sure he could have broken the world record because Cole turned on the Jets at the 200 meter mark, then got pushed back my Jakob and turned on the jets the final 100.

[@richardtbarciaii5938]

I’m just wondering why Cole hasn’t given Jacob credit for moving over for him. On Cole’s first move after the final turn, the inside lane closed, cold, touched the left hip of Jacob to let him know that he was there and to move over. As Cole was booting, Jacob moved to the right to open up the lane for him. You can see multiple videos of Cole touching his hip. I’m just wondering why he hasn’t said thank you

[@MarkLL1961]

Hocker, all your fans saw this coming sooner than later.

[@reginaldsmith2024]

Is cole hocker wearing p-6000😂 bro keeps impressing

[@unmappedtails]

Does anyone think Jakob opened up the second time because he knew he was gassed and thought that at least Cole could take down Kerr? Big cole fan regardless!

[@jay8940]

@unmappedtails I think the poke cole gave him unnerved him. he got the f outta the way, knowing he's going too slow. whether he knew it was cole that poked him at the time, who knows.....he prob did and knew he didn't have a kick left in him

[@Marktb363]

Dude very lucky he got space in the last 100 metres.

[@johnmartin7158]

Luck played a part for sure.

[@markburnette465]

It was a race. He had the talent to be there when Ingebrigsten went wide. He has the 7th fastest time all time, less than 1 second off of Ingebrigsten’s best and just over a second off of the world record. “Luck” may have played a role, but he also has the talent / ability.

[@johnmartin7158]

@@markburnette465 Cole could have been near the world record if he had a completely clear lane in the home stretch.

[@BTBFBG]

Major Loogie

[@carterwilson4605]

11 flat 100???? 13 flat 100??????

[@jonathanbennett4233]

Didn’t he say in initial interview that when hole opened up he asked God to carry him through to the finish line?

[@christianred9755]

Who is golte at 00:54

[@chucky1golf]

I suspect if Inger hadn't lead from the pack so early in the race he wouldn't have won. No mention of this 😂

[@alexdavis4857]

I think he should make a habit of making moves at 800 like he does in european races....there's still ways to take the kick out of kickers without leading the whole race

[@cjcurtis8944]

That would have been even more advantageous to Hocker, but ok.

[@skyrider7527]

Has to be one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history.

[@sweetiemcgee]

Good things happen when you position yourself to not get boxed in unlike his past events.

[@tonygarcia4060]

Why isn’t he wearing his gold? 😢

[@gj1234567899999]

@@tonygarcia4060 he is in Paris, so he doesn’t want it to get stolen right off his neck by thieves. Lots of those in Paris.

[@brokenrulerlabs]

Keeping it humble bro.

[@FirstLast-zo9xg]

@@gj1234567899999 I think he could pretty easily run them down though

[@gj1234567899999]

@@FirstLast-zo9xg sure he is a runner and can chase them down, but not a martial artist as far as I am aware. And the robber may have a knife. He could also be outnumbered.

[@DJG37S]

Because maybe he isn't doing for the fame? Plus the gold metal are actually trash. Did you know nearly 80% of the gold medal is made with silver and basically 20% of it is coated in gold. Go google it if you don't believe me.

[@tazpengra]

Go Ducks!

[@JotbotAI-Octavio]

Intro was insulting

[@jfox11000]

Cooper Teare made him

[@crisb2276]

11 flat last 100? lol It was 13.0

[@Thomas-fk3cw]

Haha. Yeah, I heard that, too. Cole was 13.0 and Jakob was 13.8. Was surprised to read Yared was also 13.0...seemed Cole was moving faster, but Yared did make up a ton of ground. Can't recall Kerr's last 100 by memory, but thought I read 13.4.

[@crisb2276]

@@Thomas-fk3cw haha, 11.0 would be insane. But yeah Kerr was 13.2.

[@Thomas-fk3cw]

​@crisb2276 That sounds right on Kerr. Thanks. Great 1500 final. Just woke up at 4am EST for the 800 meter semifinal on Peacock. Crap!! Read schedule wrong last night... not on until 5:30am. 😂 Going to fall asleep at work later. Haha.

[@WithBACON]

More like 13-flat, not 11-flat (for the last 100).