An American teenager has become the youngest ever world title winner with victory in the 800m in Toruń.
Many American teenagers go on beach vacations or spend time partying during their annual spring break. Instead, Cooper Lutkenhaus traveled to Poland to compete at the world indoor championships and became the youngest ever gold medalist at the meet when he won 800m gold on Sunday (March 22).
Last year, aged 16, she caused a storm when she ran a world under-18 record of 1:42.27 at the US championships to qualify for the worlds in Tokyo. He had poor results in Japan and was seventh in his heat, but he clearly wintered well and also turned 17 on December 19.
In Torun he trailed Elliott Crestan in the 400m in 51.91 but soon took the lead and was too strong for the Belgian as he came home in 1:44.24 with Creston in 1:44.38 and Spain’s Mohamed Ataoui finishing quickly in third in 1:44.66.
The previous youngest athlete to win a world indoor title was Ethiopia’s Mohamed Aman, who was 18 years and 61 days old when he won gold in 2012, also over 800 metres.
Lutkenhaus was three years old at the time of Amann’s victory. On Sunday, the teenager said: “I came into this knowing I’m probably not the favorite, but every time I go into a final I think I have a chance to win.”
Her gold was the United States’ fifth of these championships, moving them to the top of the medal table ahead of Great Britain, who won four.
“Maybe it came from confidence or maybe being too young, but I really wanted to try to make a decisive move,” he continued. “I believed in it in the third period, I just wanted to try to take it from there.
“I’m so amazed at how much support I got from everyone around me when I was a teenager and started competing at senior level, at the highest level. I heard guys yelling for me from the field throughout the race, especially in the last 150 meters. They got me to the finish line in first place. Team USA has such a great group together.”
Funnily enough, Lutkenhaus was accidentally handed Keely Hodgkinson’s gold at the medal ceremony, with the Brit receiving the men’s 800m gold in return. However, they soon exchanged their prizes.
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“Of course, I’m happy with the medal, but right after the race I felt a little disappointed. But Cooper’s acceleration was very strong. he is an incredible talent winning at 17 years old. I think he can be the future Rudisha.”
