Just two years ago, Jamal Britt was lying in his apartment, power out, wrestling with bills, and seriously wondering if he should just walk away from track entirely. He told NBC Sports research that many people in his shoes just “throw it all away and just give up,” but Britt decided to push through “regardless of what the situation was.” Talk about a gut check.
From Unpaid Bills to Unstoppable Speed
This guy’s story is wild. Britt, 27, had never even competed at an Olympics or World Championships. He kicked off 2026 with a personal best of 13.07 seconds, which put him outside the top 40 fastest men ever. Fast forward to now, and he’s not just “good.” He’s the second-hottest 110m hurdler on the planet and the fifth-fastest man in history! Dude’s gone from struggling to pay for power to absolutely electric on the track. For most of his career, he was completely unsponsored, making ends meet with jobs at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Scheels, and FedEx. He almost got evicted in 2024, the same year he got knocked out in the Olympic Trials semifinals, even spending two days without power because of a late payment. That’s a real struggle, not some made-up underdog story.
Breaking Barriers and Bagging Sponsors
Something clicked for Britt in October 2024. He decided to give it “one last chance,” and ever since, it’s been all uphill. He’s crushed the 13-second barrier four times this year, dropping his personal best each time across a three-week span in June and July. He’s been winning races all over the globe: Miramar, Greensboro, Des Moines, Shaoxing, Xiamen, Bydgoszcz, Prague, Los Angeles, Zagreb, Paris, Eugene, and Memphis. This isn’t just a streak; it’s a full-on explosion. After his third win in five top-level Diamond League races on June 28 in Paris, his agent called. Nike wanted to sponsor him for his next race at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on July 4. Imagine that call! He credits 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson, his coach for the past two seasons, with telling him, “Look, you can break the world record. You’re that talented.” Britt proved it, winning the Prefontaine Classic in a blazing 12.86.
Now, Britt is heading into the Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in New York City as the top seed for the 110m hurdles this Sunday. He’s chasing his first national title at an age when many track athletes have either already bagged that kind of success or dipped out of the sport. You can watch him live on Peacock and NBC Sports. This is more than just a race; it’s the culmination of years of grit and a refusal to give up. You don’t want to miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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