Grant Fisher’s Record-Breaking 10,000 Meters: The Unexpected Arizona Connection

Grant Fisher won bronze in the men’s 10,000 meters in Paris on Friday, Team USA’s first medal in the event since 2012. It turns out his coach is from Arizona.

SAINT-DENIS, France — American runner Grant Fisher made history on Friday, winning a bronze medal in the men’s 10,000-meter final. It was Team USA’s first medal in the event since Galen Rupp won silver in London in 2012.

The groundwork for Fisher’s historic run was laid in Arizona.

His coach, Mike Scannell, is a Valley local.

Scannell, who grew up in Tempe, graduated from McClintock High School in 1980 and joined the Arizona State cross country team in 1981.

It was at ASU that Scannell met Fisher’s father, Dan, beginning a relationship that would culminate in a medal.

You HAVE to watch this finish by American Grant Fisher in the men’s 10,000m final! #ParisOlympics

NBC, E! and Peacock pic.twitter.com/TIkHabiTFj

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2024

Fifteen years post-graduation, Scannell found himself in Flint, Michigan, working at a manufacturing company. There, he hired his former teammate, Dan Fisher, as a national sales manager.

Scannell began coaching a young Grant Fisher, who transitioned from soccer to track after underwhelming finishes in the Michigan State 3,200 and 1,600-meter races.

“After those races, I was not happy and started to take running more seriously,” Fisher told MyCityMag’s Mark Spezia. “That summer, I started running more to prepare for the next cross-country and track seasons.”

Scannell did not foresee coaching a future bronze medalist.

“At that time, soccer was Grant’s priority and he was nothing special in terms of running,” Scannell said. “Honestly, I didn’t think much of it at all then, but what makes Grant special is his mental focus and his response to physical training. Neither of those were apparent when I first saw him run. However, those were developed over time.”

Grant Fisher is a LEGEND.

He became the first American since Galen Rupp in 2012 to medal in the 10K, clocking a time of 26:43.46 on Friday to finish third at the @Paris2024 Olympics pic.twitter.com/MmiiHsOTGc

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 2, 2024

Fisher quickly developed his talent, becoming one of only five boys to win two Foot Locker national cross country championships. He was the seventh high school runner to break the four-minute mile mark.

Fisher ran collegiately at Stanford, achieving 12-time All-American status, winning a national title in the men’s 5,000 meters, and placing second in the national cross country championships.

Fisher turned professional in 2020, joining Bowerman Track Club in Eugene, Oregon. He qualified for his first Olympics in 2021, running both the 10,000 and 5,000 meters in Tokyo, finishing fifth and ninth respectively.

In October 2023, Fisher left Bowerman Track Club to train in Park City, Utah, with Scannell as his coach. This decision came after Scannell’s success with the Hamilton High School cross country program in Chandler.

Since their reunion, Scannell has documented their training on social media, showcasing Fisher’s commitment to making his Olympic dreams a reality.

The better you get, the more you have to learn how to get the work done alone. Unfortunately….#TOD pic.twitter.com/5lN6frY5rk

— Michael Scannell (@RealIronMike) May 3, 2024

Scannell and Fisher celebrated together after Fisher won the men’s 10,000 meters at the US Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Oregon in June 2024.

A smile is worth a thousand words. Or something like that. Today’s result is based on yesterday’s success. Do the proper training when no one is looking so you get the proper result when everyone is. Congrats G. pic.twitter.com/cHqzAGc2lW

— Michael Scannell (@RealIronMike) June 22, 2024

Scannell also shared insights into what has set Fisher apart, describing the commitment to practice and perseverance.

Busy day today. Everyone wants to know HOW?

You want to know how? Zero missed practices, steady, slow, and consistent progress, a dose of dreams, and a brain that has yet to think ‘I can’t.’

That’s how! pic.twitter.com/AjaGRB5GLO

— Michael Scannell (@RealIronMike) July 3, 2024

Now, Fisher aims to add another Olympic medal to both his and Scannell’s resumes. The preliminary round of the men’s 5,000 meters will take place on Aug. 7 at 2:10 a.m. Arizona time, with the final scheduled for Aug. 10 at 10:50 a.m.

Arizona sports

Phoenix is home to four major professional sports teams: The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals call State Farm Stadium in Glendale home, while the Suns and Mercury play at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also boasts the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium.

The Valley regularly hosts major sporting events, including the Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl, the WM Phoenix Open, NASCAR events, and Cactus League Spring Training.