Exclusive: Justin Gatlin on Mindset, Speed & the 2017 London Final

What does it take to deliver the race of your life when a stadium is against you? In this in-depth conversation, Olympic champion and World 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin opens up about the 2017 World Championships final in London, how he handled the “mental warfare” of deafening boos, and why believing in the plan—and in yourself—is non-negotiable at the highest level.

We dive into mindset, habits, and the training details that kept Justin elite for two decades. You’ll hear how he rebuilt his approach to target the last 20 meters—switching from a start-dominant pattern to top-end speed work (think 120s, overspeed, patience under fatigue) that ultimately flipped the script. Justin shares the cues and structure behind his acceleration and max-velocity phases, why “discipline lies in the mind”, and the small rules he followed (no bending over between reps, nasal breathing, staying tall) to stack winning days.

On the strength & power side, Justin breaks down the weight room: sled pulls, progressive overload, heavy squats, bench PR cycles—and how he used them to dominate the first 50–60m. He highlights the triple-extension chain (calves–quads–glutes), explains why quads matter so much for early acceleration, and makes a case most athletes overlook: the shoulder caps and arm cadence are your real “motor” for sprint speed. For common technical issues (e.g., ankle stiffness, early knee extension), he offers practical fixes—from barefoot grass work to single-leg cable patterns—plus the cadence and posture themes that keep mechanics clean.

We also zoom out to the bigger picture: Justin shares fresh anecdotes—from a planned Spartan Race with Asafa Powell to how rivalries and friendships shape the athlete journey—and reflects on career highs (Athens 2004) and hard lessons (Beijing 2015).

Who it’s for: sprinters, coaches, speed enthusiasts, and any athlete who wants actionable insights on sprint training, acceleration, top-end speed, strength & conditioning, recovery habits, and competitive mindset.

The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From HSI’s legendary sprint group to the Netflix docuseries Sprint, Ato Boldon has seen—and shaped—the sport’s evolution from every angle: Olympic medalist, world champion, and one of track & field’s most influential voices. In this episode, Ato opens up about the training culture that forged champions under coach John Smith, the “iron sharpens iron” reality of daily practice at UCLA, and why starting “late” at 16 may have saved his body and extended his prime.

We go deep on the workouts that built his 100/200m speed: high-quality 150s (5×150m with walk-back recovery, chasing 15-low) and the love-hate 300s (and why he still runs them). Ato breaks down the mental game, too—how to stay focused under Olympic-final pressure, why he wishes he’d “enjoyed the journey” more, and the exact conversation that pulled him through his toughest championship (Sydney 2000).

Ato also takes us behind the scenes of Sprint (Season 2), where he’s become “almost the voice of the series,” and explains why Paris 2024 felt like a historic high point for the sport. We unpack the sprint landscape ahead: why he’s betting on Julien Alfred to dominate the women’s 100m over the next cycle, what Sha’Carri Richardson must fix in her start, why Noah Lyles remains the man to beat in championship 100s, and how Letsile Tebogo and Kishane Thompson change the equation in the 200m and 100m respectively.

Technology matters, but context matters more. Boldon gives a measured take on super-shoes, records, and progress (“every era has its edge”), and shares what truly builds sustainable success: talent ID, the right coach, a real training group, and support systems that let athletes focus on work—not survival. You’ll hear the story that first pulled Ato from soccer to the track (“do you want a sport where you control the outcome?”), plus a Porsche-on-the-Autobahn anecdote from his 19.77 PB in Stuttgart that will make any sprint nerd smile.

Whether you’re a sprinter, coach, or fan, you’ll come away with practical takeaways: how to structure quality speed endurance, how to think about training age vs. biological age, how to use group competition without burning out, and how to balance ambition with joy. This is sprint wisdom from someone who’s lived all sides of it—athlete, analyst, and mentor.

The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MainAthlet International – The Track & Field Podcast is the English edition of MainAthlet. Hosts Benjamin Brömme and Linn Kleine talk to world-class athletes, coaches and legends about training, recovery, nutrition, mindset, biomechanics and race preparation—from sprints to distance, jumps, throws and combined events.

Past guests include Ato Boldon, Justin Gatlin, Alexis Holmes and Maruša Mišmaš Zrimšek. Expect actionable insights you can use in your own training, plus context on the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League and national highlights.

Subscribe now and leave a rating in Apple Podcasts—this helps more track & field fans discover the show. New English episodes drop regularly. Welcome to MainAthlet International: more performance, more understanding, more track & field.

The podcast cover was produced by Tim Peters in collaboration with Cortexfilm.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.