Team USA hasn't had much success in the 10,000m in Olympic history. Grant Fisher didn't seem too tethered to the country's past failings on the international stage, however, at least not on Friday night.
The Grand Blanc, Michigan native put forth a scorching effort in the event, keeping pace with a formidable trident of Ethiopian stars — Selemon Barega, Berihu Aregawi and Yomif Kejelcha — during the race's early periods.
Even as the race became stretched and Ugandan supernova Joshua Cheptegei emerged from the mire, Fisher still kept his cool.
The American suffered a bit of misfortune partway through the race, wobbling as he made his way around the bend. But Fisher found his footing in the end.
And although it was Cheptegei whose name ended up in lights — the world-record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m add to his glittering legacy with a gold (and an Olympic record) in the 10,000m — Fisher picked up a souvenir of his own: third-place in the Paris Games, becoming just the second American men's runner to ever medal in the event.
Grant Fisher becomes just the SECOND American man in 56 YEARS to win a 10,000m Olympic medal! 🥉 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/IGZ6lrK7tB
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2024
Things weren't easy for Fisher, especially with the likes of Aregawi, Canada's Mohammed Ahmed and Kenya's Bernard Kibet bearing down hard on those final two medal places. In the end, Fisher's training paid off. The newly-minted bronze medallist showed off a level of kick he had rarely displayed in the past, usurping Ahmed and falling just short of Aregawi to claim a spot on the podium.
You HAVE to watch this finish by American Grant Fisher in the men's 10,000m final! 😱 #ParisOlympics
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2024
📺 NBC, E! and Peacock pic.twitter.com/TIkHabiTFj
Here's what you need to know about the latest history-maker in the world of track, American Grant Fisher.
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Who is Grant Fisher?
Fisher is the crown jewel of the U.S.'s men's 10,000m program, having captured the bronze medal in the event at this year's Olympic Games.
Despite being an American star, Fisher wasn't actually born in the States. Rather, he was born in Canada — Calgary, Alberta, to be precise — before moving to Grand Blanc as a youngster.
Fisher was a born runner. His paternal grandfather, Allan, won two conference two-mile titles for Washington State and placed fourth in the 1952 NCAA championships in the 5,000m, while his father, Dan, ran cross country and the 5,000m for Arizona State in the 1980s.
Grant followed in his family's footsteps, becoming a star athlete in his own right. His first love wasn't the track, though. Rather, it was the pitch; Fisher was a star soccer player, shining alongside his brother, Mark, who played at Stanford and now features for MLS Next Pro side Toronto FC II.
Fisher first got into running as a way to keep his fitness for soccer season.
"Running was just a way for me to get in shape for soccer," Fisher told Runner's World in 2014. "It wasn't like I actually wanted to run track."
However, his times were too impressive to ignore. And despite his passion for the game of soccer, his dominance on the track soon won out.
“For me personally it was a bit scary to put all my eggs into one basket, but when you reach a certain level you have to commit," Fisher said, per Streamline Athletes. "There were times I was doubting myself and worried I rushed the decision or made the wrong one, but it worked out well for me."
He soon garnered interest for his long-distance exploits, eventually fielding an offer from Stanford. It was too good to pass up, he explained.
"I really wanted somewhere where I would not just be challenged on the track, I wanted to be challenged in the classroom," Fisher said. "Some schools did not seem as balanced in that aspect as Stanford. The coach was also a big factor and similarly to the team, I connected well with him and was confident he would be a great mentor for myself.”
He became one of NCAA's best runners, winning a national title in the 5,000m and finishing in podium position on two other occasions. In 2019, the then-22 year old opted to turn pro.
Since climbing into the professional ranks, Fisher has been a force. He was unable to capture a medal in the Tokyo Games. He did, however, finish fifth, not too far from the cream of the crop. Fisher followed up that showing with a second-place finish in the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He took home gold for his 13:03.86 showing in the 5000m.
During 2024 US Olympic Trials, Fisher placed first in both the 10,000m and 5,000m.
How many miles is 10,000 meters?
Fisher and his colleagues strutted across 10,000 meters of terrain, equivalent to 6.21 miles worth of running.
Grant Fisher height
Fisher stands at 5-10, sporting the typically lanky frame would one expect of a runner competing in the events that Fisher does.
Grant Fisher age
Fisher is 27 years old, having been born on April 22, 1997. He's four years older than his younger brother, Mark.
Grant Fisher college
Fisher attended Stanford University, enrolling in the school in 2015 and graduating from the program in 2019. Over the course of his four-year spell, Fisher took home numerous pieces of hardware, including – most famously — the 5,000m national title in the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
