Professional Development

(David Oliver)

(American Record Holder)

The summer season for track and field fans are reserved for two groups, professional athletes and track clubs. This is the time when high school sprinters spend time with their AAU Coaches or trainers and sharpen the skills that there high school coaches cannot. Collegiate athletes use this time to heal or personal improve to better prepare themselves for the next season. For professional athletes it's go time. They all push towards the championship meet that season or continue to improve there change of making their countries team by competing.

For professional athletes it is truly a challenge to make a living. To compete on the international stage it requires for athletes to train for 6 to 8 hours a day to simply develop the ability to compete at a high level. Improving is not always going to happen and may require some getting used to for some athletes. Every four years the Olympics are held and remain the biggest event in track and field history. The length of time between the Olympic Games makes it hard to defend your Olympic title, some do not even try. With two IAAF World Championships in between the four years new athletes are always rising, whether due to drugs or shear hard work. A great example is David Oliver.

Since Oliver's graduation from Howard University in 2004 he has steadily improved with the help of his coach Brooks Johnson. Johnson has held historical success in the sports dating back to the 70's. Oliver was more a sprint style hurdler during his days at Howard. With the direction of his coach he was able to improve upon technique and use his speed to help propel to a high level in track and field.

In 2006 the United States was becoming familiar with Oliver. His chiseled physique stood out against most hurdlers, the formal football player never let the weights slide. He busted onto the world scene winning a Golden League meet in Berlin, Germany. He won the USA Indoor Championships in 2007. That outdoor season he finished third to qualify for the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. In 2008 he earned a bronze medal at the Olympic Games and set a personal best of 12.95 joining the sub 13 club in the men's 110 meter hurdles.

In 2009 Oliver sustained a calf injury which forced him to miss another World Championship medal. Oliver would not be dismayed coming back in 2010 to by earning a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championship. That outdoor season Oliver set a American record in the hurdles by clocking in at 12.89. He would go on to have his most successful season in 2010 by defeating Liu Xiang of China and Dayron Robles of Cuba several times.

However in 2011 the competition stiffened. His hurdling started to seem a little shaky and the competition started to get much better and began refining their technique. His performances were up and down. He would again defeat Xiang at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 12.94. Oliver would ride that momentum to the USA Outdoor Championship winning the event over Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson with a time of 13.04. At the World Championships however Oliver was not able to use his early season success finishing in a disappointing 5th place, behind Dayron Robles and fellow American Jason Richardson. This past season we watched as three younger athletes all qualified for Team USA for the Olympic Games.

I am not counting Oliver out for the future even though he is 30. If anything Oliver has proven how difficult it is to be a professional track and field athlete. Every four years a new crop comes in even more hungry and ready than before. The United States has plenty of talented young athletes that will look to carry Team USA for the future. Oliver will have to get back to his great in 2010 to be able compete for a spot on Team USA.


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