A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS WITH DWIGHT PHILLIPS


AS YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR CAREER, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?


As I look back on my career, I have accomplished a lot of great things that I never really imagined I would do. I feel like as a result of my hard work and extreme dedication, the unbelievable.


I have achieved


DO YOU EVER THINK, “WOW, I’M KIND OF A BIG DEAL?”


In the moments I was competing, I never thought about it. I had been doing the sport since I was eight years old, so I was really passionate about it. With all these great athletes like Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Michael Johnson, I just wanted to compete on the world stage like they did. I seized the opportunity, and it was pretty great.


LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR YEAR IN 2013.


Twenty-thirteen was a difficult year for me. I tore my Achilles in 2012, so I knew it was going to be a challenge for me to come back. I thought that as an athlete for me to compete at the World Championships, I felt like I was invincible. I felt like all I had to do was show up for a championship, and I would receive a medal. The reality is that we have many great athletes who have been training for three, four or five years for that moment, and they beat me. But that can never take away all my years of commitment. I was happy to close that chapter of my life.


WERE YOU DISAPPOINTED AT ALL?


I didn’t perform nearly up to the standard that I had in the past, but I was happy to leave the sport in a high moment. I was happy that I could close that chapter in my life, and I could move on to the next chapter. For me to achieve the lifetime achievement award at the IAAF Gala was amazing. For me to be recognized for all my years that I put into the sport, it felt great.


VISIT USATF.ORG TO READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW.


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