Fisher’s champion’s mentality
But the challenge of the double isn’t only the opponents, it’s the the physical and mental toll.
The 10,000m in Tokyo is expected to be run hard, under warm and humid evening conditions. Recovery will be crucial: rehydrating, refuelling, and keeping his legs fresh enough for the 5,000m heats that follow.
But beyond fitness, composure matters. In Paris, Fisher proved he could thrive in chaotic finals, staying calm when the pace surged and striking late to claim medals.
That confidence has grown steadily with his results.
“I think in the past three years my mindset shifted a lot to I kind of belong in these positions and I have become a better athlete,” he reflected after Paris.
It’s a long way from the Tokyo 2020 Games, where he made his international debut as just another name on the start list. This time, he returns to the Japanese capital as a genuine contender.
Such a transformation doesn’t happen by accident. It’s born out of uncomfortable but deliberate changes.
Born in Calgary, Canada, Fisher moved to Michigan at age 12. He first tried his hand at American football before eventually settling on long-distance running.
After a frustrating 2023 season disrupted by injury, Fisher made another big change: leaving the Bowerman Track Club in Eugene to reunite with his high school coach Mike Scannell in Park City, Utah. The move has paid off with two medals to show.