Marco Arop is the guy who makes running 800 meters look like a Netflix thriller. The Canadian middle-distance star has been turning heads since he exploded onto the scene with a vibe that’s part “quiet storm” and part “hold my stopwatch.” In 2022, he snagged bronze at the World Championships, and by 2023, he was out there smashing his own records with a jaw-dropping 1:43.30. His strategy? He chills at the back like he’s scrolling TikTok, then suddenly kicks into turbo mode for the final stretch, leaving everyone else eating his dust. But trust me, his story isn’t just shiny medals and Instagram highlights. It’s got grit, family drama, and a comeback arc.

Marco’s career hasn’t been all victory selfies. Back in 2021, a hamstring injury decided to crash his Olympic prep party, basically putting his Tokyo dreams on ice. He still made it to the Games but later admitted it felt like “watching a TikTok dance I couldn’t join.” Then came 2023, where he kept finishing just shy of the podium in Diamond League races, making folks think he had. But here’s the point: Marco treats setbacks with confidence. He tosses them out and grabs a fresh carton. Every stumble just lights a bigger fire under him. And guess who taught him that? Yep, his parents, Aluel Lual and Rau Arop. They are the real forces behind Marco’s meteoric rise.

Who are Aluel Lual and Rau Arop? All you need to know about them

Want to know where Marco gets his superhero genes? Look no further than his parents. Aluel and Rau are the definition of ‘started from the bottom, now we’re here.’ They fled civil war in South Sudan in the ’90s, landed in Edmonton with big dreams and empty pockets, and somehow raised seven kids while working jobs that’d make your feet ache just hearing about them. And Rau?

Well, he has total athlete vibes; he played semi-pro soccer back in Sudan. When it comes to Aluel, she’s the family’s secret weapon, drilling into her kids the thought that “education is your superpower.”

How have they contributed to Arop’s career? Everything you need to know

Marco’s parents didn’t just raise a runner, they built a whole blueprint. Rau was his first coach, tossing him into soccer and basketball before the track even entered the chat. But Aluel? She’s the reason Marco doesn’t crumble under pressure. Her mantra? “Losing is just homework for winning.”

Even now, they’re his pit crew. Rau breaks down race tapes while coaching Marco, while Aluel texts him reminders like, “Win or lose, you better call your sisters tonight.” And when Marco landed a scholarship at Mississippi State, guess who made sure he didn’t ghost his engineering degree for track? Yep. These two wrote the manual on how to raise a champ without losing your mind.

Now, with such inspiring parents by his side, Marco is all up for the Grand Slam Track, where he’ll be tearing up both the 800m and 1500m races. Imagine him lining up against the world’s fastest, trading spikes with legends, and gunning to obliterate David Rudisha’s mythical 800m world record of 1:40.91. Let that sink in. We hope that middle-distance running will get a whole lot more interesting with his participation. What is your opinion about the same? Leave your comments to let us know.