Ex-TCU sprinter Doc Patton talks Olympics, Usain Bolt’s record and Ronnie Baker
Doc Patton was the last TCU sprinter to make Team USA for the Olympics in the 100-meter dash. He competed in the 2008 Games, best known for being Usain Bolt’s breakout party.
Bolt pulled away from the field and started pounding his chest before crossing the finish line. Patton reached the finals but finished eighth.
“People still know and talk about that race,” said Patton, who is now coaching track at Fort Worth All Saints.
Even though he didn’t medal in those Games (he won a silver medal as part of the 4x100 meter relay in 2004), Patton looks back and appreciates being a part of it all. Bolt went on to become the greatest sprinter in history, the only man to win three gold medals in the 100 meters.
Now it’s anyone’s guess as to who will succeed Bolt. Maybe it’s Ronnie Baker, a TCU product who now follows Patton as alums to qualify for Team USA in the 100-meter dash.
“That’s the beauty of sports,” Patton said. “There’s no favorite this year. There’s no Usain Bolt or Michael Johnson or Carl Lewis. With Ronnie Baker being a relatively unknown name, this is a chance for him to put a stamp on his legacy.”
Patton talked about his Olympic experience and provided advice for Baker during a recent telephone interview with the Star-Telegram.
On the race itself: “It’s what people remember. I’ll say this, I was fortunately and unfortunately part of Usain Bolt’s coming out party. People still talk about that race and the prestige that comes with it. It’s like no other. It’s the pinnacle of sprinting. The goal is to make the 100-meter final. If you’re a true track fan, you’ve watched them all. My first time was in 1992 where I actually watched and understood what was going on. It is something special. Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly realize it until you’re done.”
On another TCU product, Ronnie Baker, qualifying for the event: “You always take pride when you see people you know, especially alumni and especially in events you ran. If a discus thrower makes the Olympic team, it’s great. But there’s a special love and bias for the sprints since I ran in them. I’ve been able to meet Ronnie and share some conversations so I couldn’t be more proud for him.”
On getting to the Olympics finals: “It’s really tough, man. I often tell people, most only see the finished product. They saw the final that I ran in 2008. But in 2008, there were four rounds to go from 64 runners to eight. So not everyone watches the prelims but you have to be prepared every round and perform the best. It’s about being consistent and taking care of yourself. Survive and advance, that’s the name of the game.”
On advice for Baker: “If I had to give him advice, I’d tell him to just enjoy the moment. We take sports so serious and it becomes part of our life, but you’ve got to enjoy the moment. Don’t get me wrong, you do have to take it serious but view it as just another 100 meters. Don’t let the significance of the event add pressure. He’s going against same people he’s been racing his whole career. The distance is the same, so don’t let the magnitude of the event deter you from your focus. Of course that’s easier said than done.”
On being part of an Olympic Games: “It’s every adjective you can think of. It’s exactly that. Unfortunately I didn’t participate in the Opening Ceremonies in 2008 because I was there to ‘compete.’ I regret not doing that but there’s a lot of camaraderie with you and your teammates. It’s more than track and field, too, just hearing other people’s stories and how they got there. That’s what make it special.”
On his medals and mementos: “I have a collection of pins and not many people talk about it. You trade pins with different countries and things like that. There are people that sit outside the gates that have pins from the ‘72 Games or the ‘96 Games that you can trade for. I literally have a drawer full of different pins from different Olympics.”
On whether Bolt’s 9.58-second world record can ever be beat: “Man, you never say never, but that’s ridiculously fast. But I never thought Michael Johnson’s 19.32-second [in the 200 meter] would be touchable until Usain Bolt did it. But 9.58 in the 100? I don’t see anyone doing that unless there’s a Usain Bolt duplicate. Usain Bolt doesn’t take the traditional 45 steps in the race, he does it in three or four steps less. That’s almost unheard of so I really don’t see it being broken anytime soon.”
This story was originally published July 21, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
