“At that point, it's all about your preparation and mental game. In those last few weeks, there's not really a lot you can do to get better. I knew going in: ‘This is what I've got. I've got to bring the best out of myself.’”

Marco Arop is the reigning World champion and Olympic silver medalist in the 800 meters. Marco isn’t just one of the fastest men in the world—he’s one of the most fearless. In 2024, he clocked a blazing 1:41.20 to set the North American record and move up to No. 4 on the all-time list. Now, he’s setting his sights on breaking the seemingly untouchable 1:40.91 world record—a mission his team has dubbed ‘Project 99.’

But Marco isn’t stopping there. He’s bringing his talent and ambition to Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track for its inaugural season in 2025, joining a star-studded lineup of middle-distance legends like Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse. Known for his dominance in the 800 meters, Marco will also test his limits in the 1500, pushing himself and the competition in ways we’ve never seen before.

Marco joins us to reflect on his incredible 2024 season, discuss the challenges of Grand Slam Track, and share his journey toward becoming the first man to run an 800m under 100 seconds.

Time stamps:

3:44 - Reflecting on the 2024 season

5:50 - How he timed his peak for the Olympics

7:36 - Why the 800m elevated so much in 2024

14:00 - Thoughts on racing both the 800m and 1500m for GST

17:01 - How competing in GST will benefit his race tactics

18:38 - His potential as a 1500m runner

20:39 - Thoughts on being the X factor in GST’s 800m/1500m category

21:59 - How he thinks his GST competitors will race against him

23:27 - Who he wants to see come in as a challenger for GST

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Marco Arop | ⁠@marco_arop on Instagram⁠

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

SPOKANE SPORTS COMMISSION: In Spokane, Washington, there’s Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and now, Fast.. Fifth Season is hosting elite indoor track and field events all throughout January and February. All events take place at the Podium Powered by STCU, SPOCAN’s state-of-the-art indoor track facility. ⁠Learn more at SpokaneSports.com/FifthSeason⁠

WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time, runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. ⁠Learn more at WahooFitness.com⁠