The 16 -year -old teenager who shocked America and went to the World Athletics Championships with the School Book: “I'll give 100%”
Article by David Istrate – published on Saturday, September 13, 2025 22:27 / Updated on Saturday, September 13, 2025 22:28
Cooper Lutkenhaus (16 years old) is the youngest athlete in history representing the United States at the World Athletics Championships (September 13-21). In Tokyo, he will compete in the 800 -meter test, and in his spare time he will do his homework.
On Tuesday, September 16, the 800 -meter sample qualifiers from the World Athletics Championships will be held, and this year's best time belong to Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya, 1: 41,44), Josh Hoey (USA, 1: 42.01) and Donovan Brazier (USA, 1: 42,16).
Cooper Lutkenhaus, silver at the US national championships: “I had zero pressure”
One of the surprise participants in this sample is Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 16 -year -old American athlete, who has released 1: 42.27 at the US National Championships, beating the U18 World Record with more than a second and obtaining the silver medal..
“It was a super enthusiastic moment. The last hundred meters was the last hundred I ever ran. The audience was very loud. It was almost like a deafening noise because you hear it, but you are also so focused on the race.
The athlete studying at a Texas high school explained the mentality he had in the final of the nationals and promised to give 100% to the World Cup.
“When I went to the national championships and arrived in the final, all people were something like:«How loud, high school child has reached the final». But no one expected anything else on my part so I just wanted to take advantage of it and see what I could do. I had zero pressure, at least from my point of view. I had everything to win and nothing to lose, “said Lutkenhaus, quoted by CNN.
Cooper Lutkenhaus will participate in the World Cup in Tokyo: “I focus on what I can control”
Due to that result, the 16 -year -old athlete qualified for the World Championships, his performance being extremely praised. However, Lutkenhaus tries to stay with his head on his shoulders.
“Obviously, people can say things, but I just focus on what they can control, that is, how much I work for training, on the recovery I do after. It's about doing little things as well as I can and then block the outer noise”, Said, with maturity, the high school.
Lutkenhaus was allowed to go to Tokyo, to the competition, but in his spare time, he will have to do topics for school.
“It may be good in a way, simply the fact that I have something to do instead of staying in the hotel room all day after training. It will give me a break from that side,” concluded the American runner.
The series will take place on Tuesday, September 16, the semifinals will take place on Friday, September 19, and the final takes place on Sunday, September 21.
