TJ talks with Olympian and World Champion Phyllis Francis about her career thus far, her goals and the stories that make up the human behind the athlete.
TJ talks with Phyllis about what it's like to be recognized as a world champion (:38). Phyllis talks about how her training has been going as she prepares for the Olympic trials (2:00), and what kind of impact COVID-19 has had on her training (3:21). TJ asks Phyllis what all of her experience on the world stage has taught her (4:06) and what kind of difference that makes in the 400 in a meet (5:43). Phyllis discusses why she switched events from the 800 in high school to the 400 in college (6:45), what the switch was like (8:02) and the biggest surprise in switching events (9:00). TJ asks Phyllis what accomplishment she is most proud of thus far in her career (10:11) and what her goals are going forward (12:15). They discuss what Phyllis's mindset was as she arrived at Oregon with English Gardner her freshman year (13:56), how difficult the move was from New York to Oregon (15:19) and what she thinks when she looks back at the impact her class made on Oregon track and field (16:41). Phyllis talks about her tennis aspirations growing up (17:35) and how she ended up getting into track (18:17). She also talks about what it was like to be teammates with her sister, Claudia, at Oregon (19:39) and what her interests are outside of track (20:24). Lastly, TJ asks Phyllis about her expectations on her return to the new Hayward Field (20:59).