Reinventing Himself: Michael Norman’s Journey from 400m to 100m and Back to Olympic Glory

Michael Norman, the reigning world 400m champion in 2022, has decided to return to his former event after a brief stint with the 100m. In February 2023, he announced his intentions to focus on the shorter distance, but faced challenges and setbacks during the season, including tendonitis. He also made a coaching change from John Smith to Quincy Watts, who coached him during his college years at USC.

After being eliminated in the first round of the 100m at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in July 2023, Norman opted not to defend his title in the 400m at the World Championships. However, with two of the fastest times in the current Olympic cycle under his belt, he is determined to secure a spot on the Paris Olympic team and redeem his fifth-place finish at Tokyo Games.

In order to achieve this goal, Norman will need to finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials scheduled from June 21-30 in Eugene, Oregon. If successful, he will have another chance to showcase his skills on an international stage and prove that he is still one of the world’s top sprinters.