While the world starts turning its attention to television broadcasts of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing this week, members of the haven鈥檛 needed to wait to watch an Olympian perform.
, who finished seventh while representing the United States in the triple jump at the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, has been a member and regular visitor to the center since 2019.
While his sport-specific training is done at Eastern Michigan University 鈥� where he
was a football and track athlete 鈥� Scott said the 黑料网 Fitness Center is the ideal
place for him to conduct his self-paced cardio, weight training, stretching and recovery
regimens.
鈥淚t has all the stuff I need to keep my body in tip-top shape,鈥� Scott says.
While Winter Olympians compete for medals, Scott is in the early stages of his indoor track season. Next up is an appearance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in New York City on Sunday, Feb. 6.
A three-time USA Indoor Track and Field champion (2017, 2019, 2020) and two-time USA Outdoor Track and Field champion (2019, 2020), Scott has his goals set on a return to the Olympic stage in 2024, when Paris hosts the Summer Games. He enters the indoor season as the No. 2-ranked triple jumper in the country and No. 6 in the world.
We caught up with Scott after a recent workout for this Q&A:
Q. With the Olympics coming up, can you give us an idea of what kind of dedication it takes to compete on an international level? How many hours per day or per week do you work on your craft?
A: 鈥淚 spend at least three or four hours every day 鈥� so maybe 20 hours per week. It does take a lot of dedication to get up every morning and do the same thing over and over again, but it鈥檚 kind of just like having a job. This is my job. If I don鈥檛 do the work, I wouldn鈥檛 be the elite athlete I am. You have to get into a mindset where this is what I have to do if I want to meet my goals. There鈥檚 a lot of dedication, heart and commitment.鈥�
Q. Physical abilities aside, if you had to pick one personality trait that differentiates
a world-class athlete from the rest of the world, what would it be?
A. 鈥淢ental strength. At this level, it鈥檚 very mental and you go through a lot of mental breaks because there are a lot of ups and downs. But athletes are trained to tell themselves, 鈥榣et鈥檚 get back on my feet and keep going.鈥� You have to stay mentally prepared because at this stage, it鈥檚 just as much mental as it is physical. Not many people in my sport train in this kind of cold weather we鈥檝e been having, most live in hotter climates. So when it gets a little chilly in Europe or somewhere else, and I see my competition posting on Instagram that it鈥檚 too cold to work out, that鈥檚 a big mental win for me. I know I beat them on that day because I got in a good workout.鈥�
Q. Speaking of working out in the cold: Obviously your sport is not included, but the Winter Olympics Games are getting started. As an Olympian, is the pageantry of the opening ceremonies something that is emotional for you in any way? Will you watch the Games?
A. 鈥淚 grew up in Florida, so I don鈥檛 really know a lot about winter sports. But if it鈥檚 on and it鈥檚 interesting, sure I鈥檒l watch. Track & Field athletes actually missed the opening and closing ceremonies in Tokyo because things were so shut down due to COVID. I was basically just there to do my job and leave. Eat, sleep, practice and compete. We didn鈥檛 even get to sightsee or watch any other events. So part of my goal for qualifying for 2024 is to have a true Olympic experience.鈥�
Q. What if you could have an Olympic experience every two years? There鈥檝e been other
American track athletes who transitioned their skills to winter sports. Hurdler-turned-bobsledder
Lolo Jones comes to mind. Is there a winter sport that you would like to try? Or one
you think suits your skills as a triple-jumper?
A. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a good question. Like I said earlier, I鈥檓 not familiar with a lot of winter sports, so I鈥檓 not quite sure if triple-jumping naturally relates to anything. I know we鈥檙e strong in our legs and that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e looking for in bobsledders.鈥�
Q. Every sport is different, obviously, but can you use your experience to generalize what the Olympians we鈥檒l be watching on TV for the next couple weeks are going through?
A. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e already faced a lot of pressure just to get there and make the team. For me, once I was there, I wouldn鈥檛 say there was a lot of stress; but I was definitely nervous, for sure, being there and wanting to do good. You envision yourself with a medal around your neck and you want to fulfill that vision. In my sport, it鈥檚 really all about what you do on that one day of competition. I think I ended up trying too hard instead of relaxing and being in the moment. Now that I know what it鈥檚 like to be there, next time I鈥檒l be more calm and I鈥檒l know what to look forward to.鈥�
Q. What鈥檚 the best part about competing in the Olympics?
A. 鈥淭he best part is being able to call myself an Olympian. Not everybody can say that. I take a lot of pride in that because there鈥檚 so much hard work that went into it. Being in that Olympic Village with the other top athletes from around the world, it felt special.鈥�
Q. What鈥檚 something the general public does not know 鈥� or might surprise them 鈥� about Olympians or the Olympics?
A. 鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 my sport. I tell people I do the triple jump and they respond with, 鈥榃hat is the triple jump?鈥� I always have to explain it, show a video or something. Triple jump isn鈥檛 one of those main track events, like the 100-meters or the mile. It鈥檚 funny to me that they don鈥檛 know, but cool to be able to show them. Then they see the speed and coordination 鈥� how different and difficult it is. If you can do it right, you can be one of the best in the world!鈥�
Editor鈥檚 note: If you are among those who don鈥檛 know about the triple jump, check out some videos and photos of Scott competing in the event on his Instagram ().