Interview | I want to have a global presence and bring more competitions: Dalilah Muhammad Premium

Dalilah Muhammad's inspiring journey from Olympic disappointment to multiple medal-winning success, aiming to empower women in sports.

 A disappointing show at the 2012 United States Olympic trials only added fuel to Dalilah Muhammad’s desire to become a world-class athlete.

From finishing 16th and failing to make it to London, Dalilah fashioned a glorious turnaround to claim the women’s 400m hurdles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Far from done, she added two Olympic medals at Tokyo 2020 (400m hurdles silver, 4x400m relay gold). The 35-year-old American, the International Event Ambassador for the 17th edition of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, spoke about her glittering career and more. Excerpts:

There was a feeling that something special was about to happen. Whether that was going to be the world record, I did not know. I definitely thought I was capable of running fast. My coach had told me I was capable of breaking the world record. My self belief was cemented when my training partner, Brianna Rollins-McNeal, looked at me and said that she couldn’t wait to see me do it. It was already planted in her mind. She believed it so much, and it made me truly believe too.

Going into college, I always had the mindset that being a professional athlete was next. I thought it was my God-given right. Up until that point, I had always been good. I was a child star.

But by the time 2012 came along, that was not the reality because it came to a point where your talent can only take you so far. I was not putting in the work required to be a professional athlete. I had to change the way I did things, my diet, my mindset, my work ethic…After that 2012 Olympics disaster, I had to fight harder to do more.

That first year of training after 2012 was the hardest period. I went to train with Lashinda Demus, who was the top 400m hurdler in America. Training with her and seeing her work ethic really pushed me to a different mindset.

The plan was to retire at the 2024 Olympic Games. I was hoping that I would make it to Paris, but I missed out. I took the time to prioritise being healthy, free from injuries and the strongest I can be.