LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville native Yared Nuguse and two other Americans will run for a medal Tuesday in the men's 1500m final at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Nuguse, who graduated from Manual High School in 2017, had the fastest time among all competitors during Sunday's two semifinal races, crossing the finish line in 3:31.72. He took the lead seconds after the gun and led for the remainder of the race.
Fellow Team USA members Hobbs Kessler and Cole Hocker also qualified for the final and figure to have a chance at the podium. Kessler ran 3:31.97 in the same semifinal as Nuguse, and Hocker ran 3:32.54 in the other.
You can watch the final on Peacock at approximately 2:50 p.m. EST.
A free watch party is being held at the Village Market on Brent Street in Louisville. According to an event posting on Facebook, the festivities will begin at noon.
Nuguse, 25, won a state cross country championship for Manual before continuing his education and career at the University of Notre Dame.
He qualified for the same event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but did not make it to the semifinals. According to his college athletics profile at Notre Dame, he qualified for the 2020 Games in the 1500 by placing third in the Olympic Trials his senior year of college.
In 2019, Nuguse was the NCAA Division I champion in the 1500. He was the U.S. champion in 2023.
Nuguse has two younger twin brothers. According to his Team USA bio, he can solve a Rubik's cube in 33 seconds.
Nuguse started running when he was 13. His hobbies include playing violin, singing, cooking and knitting.