39 Facts About Cole Hocker

Cole Hocker was born on June 6,2001 and is an American middle- and long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 meters.

Cole Hocker won the gold medal in the event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, setting an Olympic record and an area record of 3:27.65.

In 2025, Hocker set the second-fastest indoor 3000 metres time in history, running 7:23.14 at the Millrose Games, where he finished just behind Grant Fisher's world record performance of 7:22.91.

Cole Hocker placed sixth in the 1500 m at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and seventh at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

In high school, Cole Hocker won several high-level competitions including the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 2018.

Cole Hocker announced in 2021 that he would forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility to run professionally, signing with Nike.

In September 2024, it was announced that Cole Hocker signed with Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track league for the 2025 season, in the short distance category.

Cole Hocker was born on June 6,2001, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Janet, a lawyer, and Kyle Cole Hocker, a teacher.

Cole Hocker began running competitively at a young age, recording a time of 4:36 for the mile as an eighth grader.

Cole Hocker attended Cathedral High School, where he won multiple state- and national-level races.

Cole Hocker was second in the 2017 IHSAA Cross Country State Finals and won in '18.

Cole Hocker finished second at the 2018 Nike Cross Nationals, and he won the 2018 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

At the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Cole Hocker won the 1500 meters in a time of 3:35.35, outkicking NCAA record holder Yared Nuguse.

Cole Hocker finished 4th in the 5000 meters in a time of 13:18.95.

At the 2020 United States Olympic Trials, Cole Hocker won the 1500 m final ahead of Matthew Centrowitz and Yared Nuguse.

Cole Hocker did not have the Olympic qualifying time; however, he qualified for the Games based on his world ranking position.

At the 2020 Olympic Games, Cole Hocker placed 6th in the 1500 m with a time of 3:31.40, setting a new personal best.

Cole Hocker's time was under the Olympic Record set 2 days prior in the semifinals by Abel Kipsang of Kenya.

Cole Hocker then ran 3:33.87, then a personal best placing 2nd in his semifinal to qualify for the final.

On September 13,2021, Cole Hocker announced his decision to turn professional, forgoing his further participation on the University of Oregon team.

Cole Hocker became a Nike-sponsored athlete, and continues to be based in Oregon training under coach Ben Thomas.

Cole Hocker made his professional debut at the 2022 Millrose Games, where he competed in the 3,000 meter race.

Cole Hocker ran a personal record of 7:39.83, placing third behind Geordie Beamish and teammate Cooper Teare.

Two weeks later at Gately Park in Chicago, in a bid for the American indoor mile record of 3:49.98, Teare and Cole Hocker ran personal bests of 3:50.17 and 3:50.35 to place first and second.

At the 2022 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Spokane, Washington, Cole Hocker doubled in the 1,500 meter and 3,000 meter events.

Cole Hocker earned his second and third national titles, running a meet record time of 3:39.09 in the 1500m.

Cole Hocker finished third at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, qualifying him for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Cole Hocker placed 7th at the world championship final, en route to a new personal best of 3:30.7.

In September 2023, Cole Hocker competed in the mile of the Diamond League final at the Prefontaine Classic.

Cole Hocker did not have enough Diamond League points to qualify, but the meet organizers entered him as a national wildcard, based on a rule which allows the host nation to enter an athlete who is of adequate standing in each event.

Cole Hocker finished third behind compatriot Grant Fisher, who broke the American record in the event, and Scotsman Josh Kerr, who broke the world record.

Cole Hocker's time was under the previous American record of 8:07.41 held by Galen Rupp.

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, on August 6, Cole Hocker won the 1500 meter gold medal with a new Olympic record and North American area record of 3:27.65, almost 3 seconds better than his previous personal best, overcoming the favorites Josh Kerr, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Yared Nuguse.

Ingebrigtsen ended up moving outwards, giving Cole Hocker, who is famous for his finishing kick, an opening on the inside to pass Ingebrigtsen and Kerr to win gold.

Cole Hocker's victory gave the United States their first gold medal in the event since 2016, when Matthew Centrowitz Jr.

At the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League on August 22, Cole Hocker finished second in the 1500 metres to Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in a time of 3:29.85 while Ingebrigtsen finished in a new meeting record of 3:27.83.

At the 2024 Weltklasse Zurich meeting on September 5, Cole Hocker finished third in the 1500 metres, in a time of 3:30.46.

Cole Hocker made a move on Fisher with three laps to go, but was out-kicked by Fisher in the final straightaway.

Fisher set a new world indoor record of 7:22.91, while Cole Hocker secured the second fastest time at the distance with a personal best of 7:23.14.