LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Yared Nuguse keeps getting better. The duPont Manual graduate who won bronze in the 1500 meters in the Paris Olympics and already owned the U.S. indoor mile record, broke the world record for an indoor mile Saturday with a time of 3:46.63 in winning the Wannamaker Mile in the Millrose Games at the Armory in New York City.
It was the first world record for the 25-year-old and the third straight year Nuguse has won this event.
The Olympics has been a major springboard into the 2025 season for Nuguse. He's unassuming, as nice a guy on the track as off. But his showing in Paris sent him into this season brimming with confidence.
He had made up his mind to storm to the front of the pack in the Wannamaker Mile, and he executed his plan.
"It's absolutely insane," Nuguse told NBC Sports after his win. "I haven't had a world record yet in my career, and I've always really wanted one just because I felt like, especially in the mile, I was good enough for it."
He's very much good enough. He said he came away from Paris with a new view of himself and his ability.
"That medal gave me all the confidence I needed coming into '25," he told NBC. "I always knew I was good, but I had never really been able to do it on the World Stage. So getting to have that medal to prove it gave me all the confidence I needed."
On Saturday, he was at his best, even with top competitor Josh Kerr opting out of the race.
"The race tactic was going to be the same," with or without Kerr in the race, Nuguse said. "I was going to get to the front. I was sad he wasn't there, but things happen."
One of the more compelling elements to Nuguse's rise in the sport is that he hasn't pursued running at all costs. He found it by accident, when a P.E. teacher at Manual saw how fast he was running in class. He refused to opt for a less demanding major at Notre Dame because his main goal was to pursue a career in dentistry.
He became an NCAA champion anyway. But his more recent successes, both in the Olympics and now owning a world record, have seen him blossom into a full-fledged international competitor, with the confidence to match.
"I took more confidence from the Olympics, more confidence in my training," he said. "I'm not afraid to go to the front if I need to. ... The biggest takeaway (from this race) for me is don't be afraid to go do it. I don't need to go chasing someone down to get the record. It can be just me versus the clock. I'm confident that I'm that strong."
And, by the way, that fast.
More Yared Nuguse Coverage:
- 'You never know:' The joyful journey of Yared Nuguse
- Yared Nuguse takes Bronze Medal at Paris Olympics
- Nuguse says return to Louisville makes Olympic moment 'a lot more real'
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