A year and a half ago, in what could have been a scene from the movie Jerry Maguire, George Lutkenhaus, a physical education teacher from Texas, received a phone call. On the other end was an offer that was impossible to refuse: Nike wanted to sign his son, Cooper, to a full contract and make him the youngest track and field athlete in history to sign with the brand. The money was big. The kid was only 16. The catch: Signing such a contract would end Cooper's ability to compete in NCAA championships.
NCAA championships were, until recently, an almost essential stage in the development of an American Olympic athlete. But that is no longer the case, and Cooper's father knew what Nike's executives knew: When his son went to college — if he went at all — it would be to study. In sports, he would already be deep in the world of professionals many years older than him, because Cooper Lutkenhaus is the kind of hope American track and field has not seen in a long time: a man who could win Olympic gold in the 800 meters.
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The youngest man in history to win World Championships gold. Lutkenhaus
(Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
It had not happened since Dave Wottle made an incredible comeback from last place throughout the final to take first and win gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics. When Lutkenhaus tries to do the same in Los Angeles in 2028, it will have been 56 years. And if he does win gold, he will not even be able to properly celebrate because he will still be too young to fill his throat with champagne. At least not legally.
A Forrest Gump GIF
Last March, at just 17 years and 93 days old, while all his high school friends were enjoying spring break, Cooper Lutkenhaus won the men's 800-meter title at the World Indoor Championships and became the youngest man in history to win gold at a World Championships. All of his competitors were at least six years older than him.
Lutkenhaus had also competed at the World Championships the previous year, at age 16. He finished only seventh in his preliminary heat and was eliminated. He returned home angry, and it is fair to say he improved.
This December, Lutkenhaus will turn 18 not only as a world champion but also as a U.S. champion, both indoors and outdoors. He also won a Diamond League meet in Oslo, defeating Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the formidable Kenyan who is the Olympic and world champion.
A super talent. Lutkenhaus crosses the finish line first
(Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Lutkenhaus holds the world junior record in the 800 meters, 1:42.08, as well as the world best in the 600 meters, 1:14.15. The latter is not an official event, perhaps, but the time is still extraordinary. Over the past eight months, he has won eight of 10 finals. He is No. 14 on the all-time men's 800-meter list, the second-fastest teenager ever and the third-fastest American.
The third child in a very athletic family, Cooper Lutkenhaus grew up in Justin, a small community about 30 minutes north of Fort Worth, Texas. His father oversees the athletic program at the high school he attends and the entire area is part of North Texas' track and field powerhouse. Among those who emerged from the region are legend Michael Johnson, the world's fastest sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson and Tara Davis-Woodhall, the long jump gold medalist at the Paris Olympics.
From a very young age, it was clear that he was an exceptional athlete, but he had trouble deciding which sport to pursue. He played basketball, wrestled, ran track and was a quarterback in football, which was his favorite sport.
In eighth grade, at age 14, he ran the 800 meters in 1:53 and the 400 in 48 seconds.
The third child in a very athletic family. Lutkenhaus
(Photo: Sona Maleterova/Getty Images)
"I was still pretty new to track, and I didn’t really know how good that was," Lutkenhaus told The New York Times. "So I asked my parents and my brothers. They told me, ‘That’s pretty good’."
From that moment on, he was like a Forrest Gump GIF. He ran all the time and everywhere. He is cool under pressure, runs effortlessly, has gazelle-like legs and an extraordinary finishing kick that emerges just as everyone around him begins to tire.
"I’m a pretty normal kid for the most part," he said, "besides the running."
Giving up college was not an easy decision for the teenager. He had scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious universities and struggled with the choice.
"I really wanted to go to college to run, so it was kind of sad not to get to. I feel like it would have been a good fit, but we felt as a team — with my coach and parents — that this (turning professional) was the best idea," he told the Times.
Americans are now dreaming of the gold medal Cooper Lutkenhaus is expected to bring them in two years. Until then, they will be knocking on every piece of wood they can find.