Morgan Pearson, a former cross country and track and field student-athlete at Colorado and 2024 Olympian, no longer may compete in the sport in which he excelled in college. However, aspects of it stick with him and impact him to this day.
The seven-time All-American has qualified to represent Team USA in triathlon at the 2024 Olympic Games, marking the second time Pearson has qualified for the team in the sport. At the Tokyo Games, Pearson earned a silver medal in the mixed relay, a feat that especially resonated with him after his experience competing for team titles at the NCAA level.
"I really value that team aspect," Pearson said of the mixed relay competition. "I mean, we (Colorado) were NCAA champs twice, we won the Pac-12 all four years I was there. So just having that team, that's something I value. It's kind of cool, full circle, to do that in the Olympics."
In his Olympic debut, Pearson was a member of the mixed relay team that won the silver medal in Tokyo. (Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Working with a team has always been important to Pearson, who didn't begin the sport of triathlon until after graduating from Colorado in 2016. He got his start through USA Triathlon's Collegiate Recruitment Program, which identifies top NCAA swimmers and runners who have the potential to excel as triathletes.
Earning gold as an age-group athlete at USA Triathlon's national championships in 2017, Pearson began competing professionally in 2018 and qualified for the national team in his first year in the sport.
Pearson then had the opportunity to train alongside the Canadian men's national team briefly. With a strong running foundation, he was able to motivate and push the team members in that portion of training. Once again, he was drawn to the team-oriented aspect of a seemingly individual sport.
"I got to train with the guys that have been to the Olympics," Pearson said of the experience. "What really stuck out to me was just you get to help guys who are on a team. I ran cross country and track in college … it's an individual sport, but you're still on a team. There's just little things you notice. Guys just look out for each other a little bit more."
This team-centered mindset is not the only thing that Pearson has carried with him from his days competing at the NCAA level. As triathlon features cycling, swimming and running, Pearson has relied on the physical fitness he developed as a cross country and track athlete to propel him to success. In fact, he still follows some of the same training he did while at Colorado.
"Some of that training stuff I've carried with me," Pearson said. "We had a really good coach, and long runs were really important for us. … I do that still."
At the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series race in May, Pearson took gold, marking the first time a U.S. man has claimed victory in a World Triathlon Series event since 2009. (Photo by Leon Neal / Getty Images)
Although he thrived as a college runner, Pearson might have ended up on a different path. Growing up, he was a competitive swimmer and even swam on his high school's team for one year. Pearson had the goal of being recruited for both sports but ultimately decided to pursue running. Nonetheless, he thinks this experience laid a strong foundation for both his physical ability and his enjoyment of that portion of the race.
"I wasn't really all in on swimming, but I still liked to go," he said of his swim team experiences. "I had friends on the team. It was just completely different — a different group of people, different outlet. … I probably went two or three times a week when I was a senior (in high school).
Of his current training, he said, "I try to swim every day because it's about keeping the feel for the water. Swimming is like that for me. … It's about consistency."
Relying on his previous experience in both sports has paid off. At the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series race in May, Pearson took gold, marking the first time a U.S. man has claimed victory in a World Triathlon Series event since 2009. Finishing the race in 1 hour, 42 minutes, 5 seconds, Pearson ran the fastest 10,000 meters in the field.
Although he already had secured his Olympics roster spot last August, this race sent a clear message to the competitors he will face this summer. It also served as a confidence booster for Pearson, who took a step back from triathlon competitions in September to get fully healthy and prepared.
As he heads into the 2024 Paris Games, Pearson continues to rely on the lessons he has learned and the experience he has gained as he discovers his true potential in the sport.
"I'm just building every single month toward Paris," he said. "My training's going well. For the first time ever in my triathlon career, I feel like I'm not behind. I feel like I'm where I need to be, and it's just a great feeling."
