Olympic Ambitions: How Michael Norman Overcame Setbacks and Secured the Second-Fastest 400m Time of the Year

Michael Norman, the 2022 World 400m champion, initially planned to switch his focus to the 100m in 2023. However, he returned to competing in the 400m event this past season and reunited with his former coach, Quincy Watts. In his first race since last July, Norman clocked a time of 44.21 seconds in the 400m, ranking him as the second-fastest in the world so far this year based on best time. This time was just one hundredth faster than Jamaican Antonio Watson’s winning time at the world championships held in August.

In order to secure a spot on the Paris Olympic team in the individual 400m event, Norman will need to finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials scheduled from June 21-30 in Eugene, Oregon. Norman had initially announced his move from the 400m to the 100m in February with the goal of achieving gold in the shorter distance at the 2022 Worlds. During the 2023 season, Norman faced several setbacks which he described as “setback after setback,” including tendonitis. He also made a coaching change in May, moving back to Quincy Watts after being coached by John Smith since his college years at USC in 2017 and 2018.

Following his struggles in the