USA Javelin Champion Curtis Thompson

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So, I’m here with 2025 Javelin National Champion Curtis Thompson. Another meet going over 80 meters, 8398, four throws over 80 meters today. How do you feel about today’s performance? I feel really good. Um, I’m excited about the execution that we did. Uh, the game plan that we had coming into this meet, we did exactly what we were supposed to. Had a couple small things that pop up, but, you know, we were able to to maneuver and do what we got to do. So, you had a massive opener at the Texas Relays earlier this year throwing over 87 meters. How did you feel about that throw when you hit it and how did you feel that was going to stay you up for the rest of the season and how did you deal with that for your following meets leading into nationals? Yeah. Um one of the things with that first meet uh had months on top of training uh leading into that. So very consistent training all in offseason leading into that first meet and executing with that behind it gives us those big throws. Um when we get into season it’s just a matter of things pop up. Uh training gets broken up here and there. Um, so it’s just about trying to learn and navigate through that so that we can go ahead and continue uh continue to get to those bigger throws. So what do I take from that first meet? The things that worked those those months leading into Texas, let’s implement them more and then kind of look at that to see if we can get ready for Worlds and do the right thing in the next month, two months. Can you break down exactly what you guys were doing different in the offseason to lead it to such a massive opener? Yeah. Um, I mean it it’s not anything like secretive or new. It’s uh when I when I say the consistency, I mean there was no breakup in training. Um I was able thankfully to train for months without sickness or um I guess fatigue where I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I can’t train today.” Like we were able to train every day, you know, leading up there was no break. Um so and then also we were able to focus on some things that we when we look back on Paris, what were some of the things that we, you know, we were lacking? Um, so we kind of focus on that so it becomes second nature. So explaining your Paris experience. Last time we talked was at Javest. It was your last meet prior to Paris. How was your Paris experience and what do you think you learned from that competition? Yeah. Um, Paris experience was great. Uh, you know, it was the first Olympics where I was able to walk around. We didn’t have, you know, CO that we had to deal with. Um, I was able to sightsee. Family was able to get out there. Um, so the experience as a whole was great. Um, what did I learn? Um, I really learned that our preparation and our ability to adapt and, you know, deal with any any adversity. We were able to, uh, we were able to go ahead and, uh, feel prepared. Like, I felt really prepared. It just didn’t click. Um, and looking at it, you know, I could obviously go, “Oh my goodness, why didn’t it click? I’m going to try and figure it out.” But it just, it’s just one of those, it just didn’t click. So, um, we learned that what we did preparing for Paris was great. We can do it again. And then we can understand see can we make it click this time. Here’s a question. How you’ve been doing this for so long at such a high level. How does an 80 meter throw now feel versus an 80 meter throw feel when you were like in college or just recently post collegiate. Um I guess the best comparison is weightlifting, running, whatever it is. If you PR in something, it feels crazy as in like felt like nothing or felt like oh my goodness, that was the hardest thing in the world. Um but then when you keep doing it and your mind goes, “Oh, it’s possible. You’ve done it before.” When you do it again and again and again, then it’s like, “Okay, that next feeling, where is that?” Well, after 80, it’s 85. After 85 is 90 after, you know, and it just builds on that. And I think uh just keeping each step at a time, you know, that’s what it is. Uh final question, what is your what is your plan leading into Tokyo? Are you going to be doing any more meets? What training are you going to do to that might be even a little different than what you let into Paris to get the best result you can? Yeah. Um looking to hopefully compete in one or two meets in uh this next month leading into Par uh into Tokyo. Um but training wise was looking most likely I’ll talk to coach and he’ll probably correct me on this but looking to try and build a little bit for these next two weeks. Um and then get ready for uh and then you know start tapering off and getting ready for Tokyo. Yeah, it’s been a really long season, especially, you know, world championships in September. That’s got to be How did that like guys affect your training plan, especially when you’re trying to map out that season with how many meets you were doing and which meets you thought were like, “These are the meets we want to perform at.” Um, I’ve gotten to a point where there were seasons where I tried to strategically pick meets what I want to do and try to place it like that. Um, what we learned about myself is I like to compete. I enjoy competing. Um, I don’t really enjoy just training. Um, so being able to compete as much as I can, um, as I’m healthy, uh, has been the biggest thing. So, um, having a late me, a late season, it’s not as foreign cuz I feel like the past within the past four years, we’ve probably had two or three late seasons, um, for meets. Um, so kind of just enjoying it all the way through and then once it’s done, then you take your break and then you get back and you go, man, I want to get back into it and get back into training. So, um, once that kind of goes away, then we’ll have to start thinking, what’s wrong with you? I love to see the passion. Curtis, it’s always awesome talking to you. Congratulations on another national championship. 8398 Curtis Thompson, your 2025 USA men’s javelin national champion. Appreciate. Thank you so much. [Music]