For most athletes, a single world record defines a career. But for American distance runner Grant Fisher, February 2025 will forever be remembered as the month he rewrote history—not once, but twice in less than a week.
The 27-year-old stunned the athletics world with an unprecedented back-to-back feat: breaking the indoor 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters world records within six days. Before this season, Fisher had never held a world record. Now, he’s etched his name alongside legends.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Fisher said in a recent interview. “12:44 doesn’t sound like a 5K time, and 7:22 doesn’t sound like a 3K time. But those times are now attached to my name forever.”
A Golden Week on the Track
Fisher’s magical run began on February 8 at the Millrose Games in New York, where he edged out compatriot and Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker with a blistering 7:22.91 in the 3,000m—nearly a second faster than the previous world record held by Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma.
“We just kept winding it up,” Fisher recalled. “It ended up that I needed a world record to beat Cole that day. Which is kind of crazy.”
Then came Valentine’s Day in Boston. Running largely solo and navigating through slower competitors in the latter half of the race, Fisher clocked 12:44.09 in the 5,000m—surpassing the great Kenenisa Bekele’s previous mark and sealing his second world record in less than a week.
“That one was just me grinding against me,” Fisher said. “When there’s no carrot in front of you, it becomes a whole different kind of mental game.”
A Rising American Star
While Fisher had already tasted global success with Olympic bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m, these two world records have elevated him into rarefied air. And he’s not slowing down.
He’s one of 48 athletes signed to compete in the newly launched Grand Slam Track series—a brainchild of sprinting legend Michael Johnson—featuring elite sprinters and endurance athletes across four events. With a base salary and the chance to earn up to $100,000 per win, Fisher is aiming to go undefeated.
“There are two big sides to track and field,” he explains. “One is: how fast can you go? The other is: can you beat everybody else? I know I can go fast. Now I want to prove I can beat everyone.”
He’s already faced down top talents like Ronald Kwemoi, but his sights are firmly set on dominating the Grand Slam circuit—even without Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the mix.
A Career Reimagined
Just over a year ago, Fisher’s career was at a crossroads. He’d narrowly missed medals at the 2022 World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics, leaving many to label him a “nearly-man.” But a pivotal coaching switch reinvigorated his trajectory.
At the end of 2023, Fisher left Oregon’s Bowerman Track Club and moved to Park City, Utah, reuniting with his high school coach Mike Scannell. Training at altitude and under familiar guidance, he rediscovered his edge.
“That change has been massive for me,” Fisher said. “It’s carried me to world records and Olympic medals. I feel like I’m just getting started.”
The Future of American Distance Running
Fisher is now part of a resurgent generation of American distance runners, alongside names like Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse. He credits the mindset shift to performances like Matt Centrowitz’s 1500m gold in Rio and Galen Rupp’s Olympic success, which proved that Americans could compete with the dominant East African nations.
“When I was younger, the story was that Americans couldn’t keep up,” Fisher said. “But those races unlocked something for us. Now we go into races unafraid.”
Eyes on the Horizon
As Fisher’s record-breaking February fades into the rearview, his focus is firmly on the future. With the form of his life and a renewed sense of belief, he’s racing not just for times—but for titles.
“I know I’m world class,” he says. “I’ve been close to being the best before. But now, I want the win. Every single time.”
