Slow down to speed up: Carl Lewis’s advice to young athletes
Twenty-eight years after his retirement, Lewis continues to be deeply involved in his sport, with coaching one of his main roles today.
Life is very different in 2025 from the era of the 1980s and ‘90s that represented Lewis’s heyday, but that doesn’t mean everything is better. And, in Lewis’s eyes, the growing pains teenagers feel are much the same now as they were then.
“We think that because we have computers, we have cell phones, we have social media, all of a sudden, everyone is smarter,” he said.
“Well, let me tell you something, when I was 17, I made the Pan Am team, and I was fifth in the world by the way. When I was 18, I made the Olympic team. When I was 19, I was the world record holder; when I was 20, I made six figures.
“This is all in the early ‘80s, by the way. And I was still just as dumb as a 17, an 18, a 19 or a 20-year-old.
“Nothing was different; the only difference was that I was focused on a goal and I had success.”
Gout has gained plaudits around the world for being blazing fast, and in an occupation where success is measured by speed, it’s no wonder his name is on everyone’s lips.
However, perhaps there is something to learn from a steady development in sports. Not everything in life can be approached at a sub-10-second pace, and sometimes, just sometimes, it’s better to be the turtle than the hare.
“So that’s the first thing: do not rush,” concluded Lewis. “Being an adult, as an athlete, we’ve seen it so many times, and the success rate is extremely low.
“So if you can keep it slow, keep it simple, go to college, focus on getting a degree — because that’s for your future and that’s your generational wealth — let yourself develop, and then as time comes to you, make those next steps.”