Cole Hocker competed as a racer in Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track second phase in Miami. Though Hocker finished in the 1500m, he still showed off his speed and finished the race in 3:24.79, behind Josh Kerr and Yared Nuguse. Even last year, he was on fire. In a stunning upset at the Paris Olympics, Cole Hocker sprinted to gold in the men’s 1500m, clocking a record 3:27.65, and it was the seventh-fastest time ever.

Cole Hocker stayed right on the heels of race favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr before unleashing a powerful final surge in the last 100 meters to snatch the win. With this historic performance, Hocker became the first American to win Olympic gold in the 1500m since 1908. With all his achievements, Hocker’s fans must be curious to know about his religion and ethnicity.

What is Cole Hocker’s religion?

Long before he became an Olympic champion, Cole Hocker’s journey was shaped by two strong pillars: his faith and his family. He grew up in a tight-knit Christian home in Indianapolis. Hocker attended church with his family every week and remained active in youth ministry programs. That early spiritual grounding served as a compass, both on and off the track. During his middle school years, Hocker began setting goals for himself as a runner, writing them down to stay focused and disciplined. That ritual paid off—by 2018, he was the Indiana state cross-country champion and a standout athlete at Cathedral High School.

With his talent, his faith also blossomed, and Hocker has been vocal about it. Hocker has often spoken about how he views running as a sport and a God-given gift—something he strives to honor with his best effort. Prayer became part of his pre-race routine, offering a moment of calm and purpose before stepping onto the track.

His spiritual mindset remained constant through college and into his professional career. Ahead of major races—including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—he would often pause to pray at the starting line, grounding himself before competition. “The reason I run is because I have a God-given talent,” Hocker said in a telephonic interview before going to Tokyo. He even added, “I just feel God has given me the gift of running, and my job is to give it my best.” 

Then again, at the Paris Olympics came the defining moment of his career. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hocker stunned the world by clinching gold in the men’s 1500m with a record-setting time of 3:27.65. He surged past heavy favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr in a thrilling final sprint. In the emotional aftermath of his victory, Hocker pointed to his faith once again—not as an afterthought, but as the source of his strength. “I just let God carry me through the finish line,” he said after winning gold at the Paris Olympics.

Today, Cole Hocker continues to chase big goals on the track and in life. But no matter how fast he runs, his faith remains at the heart of his journey—a quiet, constant force propelling him forward.

What is Cole Hocker’s ethnicity?

While Cole Hocker has become a global face with his racing on the track, little of his ethnic makeup is publicly available. What is known is that he’s exceedingly proud to be American and has a down-to-earth, working-class family background. His dad, Kyle Hocker, is a school teacher, and his mom, Janet Davis, is a lawyer—two professions that probably helped shape Cole with discipline and ambition evident in his professional life.