Carl Lewis Gives Back To Track & Field

Every once in a while you get to interview someone that is simply fantastic. Well, I had that special opportunity on one beautiful sunny morning in Connecticut. The American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships were being held over a 4-day stint in Storrs, Connecticut.

To make the experience even more wonderful, one of the greatest athletes in the world was attending and that was Carl Lewis. Carl has won 10 Olympic medals, nine of them gold and ten championship medals. Carl still holds the fastest school records for the indoor 55-meter dash (6.07) and both indoor and outdoor long jump records 8.56m (28-1) and 8.62m (28-3½). Carl is one of the University of Houston’s full-time coaches. As a coach, he does not take a salary for this position.

Carl, now 53, walked in with a long sleeved white shirt and jeans with a Houston red cap on his head. His lean and fit physique seemed to be untainted by the aging process and was an inspiration for all young and old. As we sat down to start the interview, Carl instantly impressed me with his articulate and precise responses. His ever-so-large smile and joyful demeanor made the interview a terrific experience.

Janice: After giving 18 years as an Olympian and world champion athlete, what is your new profession?

Carl: I am a full-time track & field coach at the University of Houston. I specialize in training sprinters and long jumpers. In addition to the coaching, I am also a United Nations Ambassador and Motivational Speaker traveling extensively around the world.

Janice: How many athletes do you coach at the University of Houston?

Carl: I coach anywhere between 10-15 athletes.

Janice: What are you bringing to the University of Houston as a coach that will set them apart from other schools?

Carl: My coaching philosophy consists of four principles: honesty, discipline, structure and accountability. If an athlete does not have those principles down then they will run into problems moving forward. It is important that all four principles are working in unison which in turn makes a great athlete if not a great Olympian. When I first meet my new athletes, I make sure that these students know what my expectations are and how to achieve them, ultimately making a great student-athlete.

Janice: Do you find it harder these days to coach the students of Generation Y and Z since they have more grueling academic schedules and are being raised quite differently than the generation from your era?

Carl: I do find it difficult at times since this generation expects trophies and pats on the back more often than just working hard. When I grew up, training hard was expected with little pats on the back. I did not get many trophies or awards until I made it to the Olympics. You have to strive for a personal best and work to get better as opposed to expecting medals and trophies all the time.

As part of my job as a coach, I visit a few student’s homes when I see potential, and know that this athlete will follow my strict regime and fulfill my expectations. Sometimes, I have to be a father-figure to these students since they can bring their personal problems into the training. However, I make it clear that this needs to be alleviated quickly if you want to become a great athlete. Please note that nine out of ten kids do not run after college so we are preparing these athletes to be great, but to also receive life skills as they move into the real world.

Janice: How did the sport change since the 1980s?

Carl: While attending the Olympics in 2012, I noticed that the United States did not win any gold medals in sprinting or jumping. This was the first time ever that no gold medals were won and this motivated me to get into coaching and make a difference in the sport.

Janice: Who inspired you as an athlete?

Carl: I have always admired Jesse Owens and Steve Williams.

Janice: What got you into sprinting and long jumping?

Carl: My parents were both teachers and coached me as a young man in track & field and other sports. Sprinting and long jumping was a sport that I was particularly good at and got a lot of ecognition.

Janice: Did you run into any obstacles when participating in track and field?

Carl: I was always short for my age until I turned 15 and then had a growth spurt of 2½ inches in just a month which resulted in me having to use crutches. Once my body got used to the growth spurt, I became one of the top track and field athletes in the country.

Janice: What do you do now for training?

Carl: I cycle 4-5 days per week for an hour and half. I also use aerial silks, a medicine ball, tumbling and do trapeze.

Janice: Do you follow any nutritional program to stay fit and lean?

Carl: I am a vegetarian and my breakfast consists of two hardboiled eggs, lunch is some kind of vegetable soup like lentil or having a salad. Then dinner can be spinach lasagna with lots of vegetables and in between meals I will eat fruits and nuts. If I do cheat on occasion, I enjoy salty potato chips.

Janice: I had read that you were considering a run as a Senator in New Jersey. What has become of that position?

Carl: I did indeed consider running for Senator in New Jersey, but the problems were too widespread and felt I did not get enough support from the people. However, I am very interested in the political scene but my schedule does not allow me to have an active role at this juncture.

Janice: What makes an Olympian?

Carl: Hard work, genetics, talent, mental toughness and always setting high goals. You need to strive to keep getting better.

Janice: How do you communicate with your fan base?

Carl: I use Twitter and no other medium. I have a Facebook page but do not correspond back and forth with anyone.

June 3, 2015