Nick Symmonds is one of the fastest middle-distance track and field athletes in America, specializing in the 800m and 1500m distances. He won seven NCAA Division III titles in outdoor track. In 2007, he won the 800m race at the Prefontaine Classic. On June 30, 2008, Symmonds won the 800m event at the U.S. Olympic Trials that took place in Eugene, Oregon. He finished in 1:44.10 and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Symmonds grew up in Boise, Idaho, and was educated at Willamette University, which is located in Salem, Oregon.
Recently Symmonds has made the news by auctioning off a part of his body on eBay as a place for businesses to advertise their brand with temporary logo placement. Symmonds created a campaign through his very popular blog posts at Flotrack.org titled, "I'm Tired of the USATF and IAAF Crippling our Sport and OwnYourSkin. He also created a facebook group, which boasts well over 6,000 members.
Symmonds argues that the international governing body of track and field, the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) rules around athlete sponsorship are draconian and dated. The American governing body, the USATF following the IAAF’s rulebook have also been steadfast. That is until recently, where Symmonds indirectly scored a victory for the athletes, hence his successful auction bid on eBay.
Symmonds took time out of his busy schedule to discuss training, racing and his protest to support his fellow athletes.
Christopher Kelsall: The 800m must be the deepest of all track and field events. You have run 1:43.76, which at some major events would end up getting you a medal, but can just as easily be not good enough to get out of the semis; the allure of the 800m to you, is it about its competitiveness?
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I agree with Nick 100%!!