TJ's chat with Olympic legend and NBC Sports Lead Track and Field analyst Ato Boldon continues with Part 2! In this episode they talk more about his professional running career, his television career and his life outside of track and field! Plus a look back at the famous glasses he and Oakley debuted 20 years ago.
A special two-part interview while we are in between seasons! TJ talks with Track and Field legend Ato Boldon. You may recognize Boldon as NBC's lead track and field analyst for the past 3 Olympics, and pretty much every track and field broadcast for over a decade. Prior to that Boldon had an extremely impressive sprinting career. Hear about that and the rest of his story! This episode they discuss growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Boldon's move to the US and the early stage of his track and field career. We also address a popular debate topic of NFL players being as fast as Olympians. Be sure not to miss his thoughts on that one!
TJ ends the second season with another Special Edition episode as he talks with one of the Player Development Coaches for the Golden State Warriors, Theo Robertson. They discuss his playing and coaching career, his journey through the NBA and what it is like being a coach for the Warriors.
This week TJ talks with 2016 Olympian in the Women's Shot Put, Raven Saunders. If you like comeback stories this is the episode for you. This will give you another athlete to root for. They discuss her rise to the Olympics, her subsequent battle with depression, the road to recovery and her current journey to the Tokyo Olympics. Side note, that road included an 80-pound weight loss!
TJ talks with a few current University of Oregon Track and Field student-athletes. This is an interview that was originally done for TrackTown USA for the June edition of the socially distanced TrackTown Tuesday. A shorter version was aired on that episode, and this is the longer version of that interview. The athletes TJ talks with are Max Lydum (Senior Thrower), Carmela Cardama Baez (Senior Distance runner) and Lexi Ellis (Sophomore Jumper). They discuss the abrupt ending of their 2020 season, the seniors returning for one more year and the brand new Hayward Field.
TJ stays on the track this week as he talks with the collegiate record holder in the women's 200 meters, Kyra Jefferson. They discuss the race when she broke the record, her family's Olympic pedigree, her swimming career, her foundation and much more.
TJ is back on the track this week as he moves to the runway for a conversation with 2-time Olympic gold medalist and American record holder in the triple jump Christian Taylor. They discuss his career, past and present, the creation of the Athletics Association and what lies ahead for Christian.
TJ is back with another Special Edition episode. This time he goes back to the pool, but for a different water sport as he talks with 2016 Olympian in Synchronized Swimming, Anita Alvarez. They break down the sport, talk about training John Legend, revisit past Olympic memories and discuss future Olympic goals.
TJ talks with 2015 World Silver Medalist and two-time USA 400 meter hurdles champion Shamier Little. They discuss why she chose to run one of the most painful events in track and field, the ups and downs of her professional career and look ahead to her Olympic quest for Tokyo.
BTU takes the interviews off the track and into the pool for a Special Edition episode. So many Olympic athletes have amazing stories to be shared, so the interviews outside of track and field will be classified as Special Edition. In this episode TJ talks with three-time Olympic gold medalist and current 100 meter backstroke World Record holder Ryan Murphy. They discuss swimming with the legend, Michael Phelps, breaking world records, winning gold medals and a lot about Ryan's life in and out of the pool.