Christian Coleman has become one of the most talked about track and field athletes in recent years. With all that lightning-fast speed, the sprinter has blazed several arenas quite a few times. Not only has he framed numerous accolades on his wall of fame, but the Georgia-based athlete also remains one of the fewest runners who were able to get past Usain Bolt in a track faceoff. However, his athletic dreams were not always a bed of roses, and his career met with some significant setbacks and rejections in the initial stages.

His mom, Dr. Daphne Coleman, once got candid about his son encountering multiple rejections that led to Christian switching careers and becoming one of the most dominant track and field runners worldwide.

How Christian Coleman rose from the ashes to become track and field icon

As per reports from The Sun, track and field wasn’t always a primary career choice for Coleman, and he used to play American football in his early days. The Atlanta native always dreamed of playing Division I football, and he was a practicing wide receiver, but his size became a barrier to doing so. Due to the same reason, colleges did not show any interest in taking him, which later became a reason for giving up on his football pursuits.

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“To see him excelling after being hurt, feeling like the schools didn’t want him, I’m just so happy for him. I feel that is a piece that still drives him because I think he still has that little chip on his shoulder that, ‘Those colleges didn’t want me,'” is what his mother had to say about the ignorance.

Daphne Coleman also added that the rejection opened doors for Christian and made him realize that football wasn’t an ideal career path for him. Christian Coleman hasn’t had a great affair with football, but his father, Seth Coleman, always knew that his son was meant to be a sprinter, as he showed the signs of being “quick” during childhood.

From starting blocks: His father’s instincts unleashed a sprinting star

There is a fun anecdote behind Seth Coleman spotting the rapidity in his son. It was the fear of vacuum cleaners, as whenever a hoover was turned on, Christian used to run and jump on the sofa. “The first time he did it, my husband almost lost his mind. He was like, ‘Oh my, God, did you see that? He said he could pivot and run at the same time, and he’s two. He’s like, ‘People can’t do that!” is what Daphne Coleman said about his husband’s observation of his son.

This “pivot and run” led to an inspiring track and field journey, resulting in him becoming one of the fastest runners globally, breaking numerous records along the way. Christian Coleman is now a three-time world champion, a two-time Diamond League final winner, a two-time world indoor champion, and so much more. Now the runner has his eyes set on the Paris Olympics 2o24, where he’ll be resenting the United States soon.

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