Who is Cravont Charleston's coach? Sprinter aims for glory at World Athletics Championship
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: The first US 100m champion without a footwear sponsor since 2012, Cravont Charleston will compete at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27.
The 25-year-old Sprinter recently stated that while making the top three would be an honor, his ultimate goal is to win, as per The Guardian.
Charleston places a high priority on a supportive coach-athlete relationship - something that money typically can't buy.
Charleston views winning the 100-meter national championship as a milestone he and his coach Allen Johnson accomplished together. "It was a lot for the both of us," he stated. "We took a moment to realize where we were. I told him, 'I appreciate you.'"
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Who is Cravont Charleston's coach for the World Athletics Championship?
Charleston met Johnson, who won gold in the 110m hurdles at the 1996 Olympics, as a freshman on the North Carolina State squad while Johnson was an assistant coach. Additionally, Johnson won four times at the World Championships.
Johnson has been coaching the freshly crowned US 100m champion for the past seven years. Nearly every day, Charleston travels 290 miles from Charlotte to Greensboro to work out with his coach, as per the Olympics.
"It’s nice to have someone who’s been where you’re trying to get to," Charleston stated. "[Johnson] can navigate you," said the Sprinter about his coach, as per The Guardian.
The 25-year-old has continuously gotten the required support despite experiencing difficulties because of injuries. "He (Allen Johnson) has been awesome. I have known him since I was 18 years old. He is like a mentor slash friend, and he has helped me navigate my career," Charleston said to MileSplit.
What did Cravont Charleston's coach say about his win?
Johnson claimed following the event that Charleston's triumph was not unexpected. "I’ve been expecting this [win] since he was a freshman in college," the coach stated.
Cravont Charleston's challenging journey
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Charleston's progress has, however, not been without its share of struggles. He experienced a profound loss in 2021 after losing his father. Shortly after, he claimed to have been hurt and had lost his composure.
"I had no direction," he said. "Continuing on was hard but that year I ran for [my father]."
Charleston attributes his ability to survive what he described as a blur to the support of his mother, siblings, and churchgoers.
"It never gets easier but you learn how to manage," he said. "We’re all going through the same thing and we can persevere together. Seeing how strong they are helps me."
When Charleston returned to practice the next season, he set new records on the track. He covered distances he had never covered before. "I came back stronger, like a different athlete," he stated. "My coach was like, 'Who are you? Where’s the old Cravont?'"