Lack of Sponsor Can't Deter Competitive Spirit

By Scott Bush - Click Here for all TF360 Archives

One of the very best sprinters in American history, Wallace Spearmon Jr. finds himself in a different place than usual as the 2014 outdoor season opens. The two-time Olympian has run sub-20 more time than anyone else in history, and despite winning the U.S. title for 200 meters in 2012 and finishing fourth at USA Outdoors last year, the former Arkansas Razorback finds himself without a sponsor.

Despite the financial hurdle, Spearmon is as focused as ever. Currently based in Fayetteville, and working towards what will hopefully be a healthy season ahead, Spearmon shared his insights into the 2014 season, what he tells people he does for a living and so much more.

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Scott Bush (SB): First and foremost, after a solid indoor season, how's training going? What's new in the world of Wallace Spearmon Jr.?

Wallace Spearmon Jr. (WS): Training this year is going well, I'm back in Fayetteville,  Arkansas training where it all began. I'm not going to jinx myself and say I'm finally healthy but thus far I've been able to handle everything that has been thrown my way. I have a great team around me and I really like the way things are going. 

SB: The World Relays Championships are this year. How excited are you to team up with your fellow American sprinters and take on the Jamaicans and the rest of the world? 

WS: I think Arkansas could have broken the collegiate record in the 4x2 while I was in school but due to injuries we never got a chance to put that theory to the test. My last year in college was 2005, so it’s only taken 9 years to get a chance to run another 4x2. The U.S. will have a young team but I think it will be fun to line up with the rest of the world to see where we match up in the event. If Jamaica runs their A team they definitely will be hard to beat, but this year I'm looking forward to any challenge thrown at me.

SB: It's 2014, a non-World Outdoor Championship year, what (if anything) changes for you in training and racing this season? Any chance we'll see you test out different events?

WS: 2014 will be a year for me to play around in some other events and see what happens, primarily the 400. I'm getting more acclimated with the event at practice and I've actually accepted the idea of me running the event competitively. I don't know what the outcome will be but I imagine with some hard work I can run 44. Thats my number 1 goal this year.

SB: You've been a pro for nearly ten years now and have continually been among the very best in the world. What's your secret?

WS: 10 years strong in the game and I'm still relative, I've seen several competitors come and go but I'm still here, what’s my secret? Ha! I think I chose my parents well, other than that God has blessed me with tremendous talent and I've been able to maintain a high level of training throughout the years. I really don't know why I'm still here but hopefully my best years are still in front of me and we'll find out sooner than later.

SB: Before this season, you were sponsored by Saucony, which unfortunately isn't the case now. Do you have a new sponsor lined up? If not, what's it been like competing/training/living without the support of a shoe contract?

WS: I'm currently training without a sponsor and this has definitely been an eye opening experience. I've been at the top and been one of those "top 3" athletes that get paid so well. Now I'm experiencing what its like to the on the other end of that spectrum. I definitely have a lot of respect for some of my teammates that work and or have regular jobs while they try and reach their dreams of becoming the best. Maybe someday our sport will change and the athletes will get paid like they deserve to. Luckily for me I've saved enough money to make it through the rough times and I believe soon I'll be back with a sponsor.

SB: I love your Twitter description of, "Still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I guess I'll keep running until then." When you meet someone new, who maybe doesn't know who you are, when they ask what you do, what do you tell them? Then...how do most folks react when you tell them?

WS: Still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up… if that aint’ the truth, I'm going to enroll in classes at Arkansas in the fall and I'm in the process of choosing a major for the second time. I honestly have no idea what I want to do, so if anyone has any good suggestions I'm all ears.

If I meet someone who doesn't know me and ask what I do I usually tell them I run in circles with 7 other men and we all wear spandex. Lol! You should see the faces and reactions I get. I typical don't tell people what I do, I don't have a good reason why but I tend to keep it to myself.

SB: You're past teammates with Tyson Gay. When you hear the new that Tyson tested positive for a banned substance, what was your initial reaction?

WS: I won't really say too much about the Tyson issue, but I will say I was definitely shocked and in disbelief when I heard the news.

SB: At this point in the season, what does a typical week of training look like for you?

WS: A typical week of training for me…My life is far from typical and it’s very uncommon for one week to be very similar to the next. I usually train 6 days a week on the track and 5 days in the weight room and doing corrective exercises. Leave the house around 9 or 10am and don't get back until about 5:30 or 6pm. It’s dang near like having a real job. I should be making more training video's soon, so you'll have a very good idea of what it’s like to be me and train on a daily basis.

SB:  little fact maybe many don't know...you've broken 20 seconds in the 200m more than any sprinter ever, which includes Michael Johnson. What's it mean to you to have run at such a high level, so many times, for so long?

WS: The leader of the sub 20 club, honestly running sub has almost become expected. I believe of all the years I've been pro only two of those years I've failed to run sub 20 (2011, 2013) both years I faced Achilles problems. If I fail to run sub 20 at least 3 or 4 times in a year I'm almost disappointed. I would consider myself very lucky/blessed to have achieved this accomplishment. I also think I've run more 200's than most sprinters, haha.

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