From National Champion to Olympian

In a year filled with unforgettable moments, one seems to stand above the rest – for now.

When Russell Robinson arrived at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, he was already one of the most decorated student-athletes in Hurricanes track and field history.

He’d broken his share of school records at Miami, and in March, he became the 18th Hurricane to win an individual national title when he bested the competition in the men’s triple jump at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston with a mark of 16.76 meters (55 feet).

Now here he was on the last day of June, standing at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon trying to process that he was headed to the Olympics and that his father, Reynolds, was there to share in the moment.

A caddie on the PGA Tour, Reynolds Robinson hadn’t been sure whether he’d be able to make the biggest meet of his son’s life. But things had broken his way and so, he’d traveled to the Pacific Northwest to surprise Russell Robinson and provide an extra dose of moral support.

Now, father and son – along with the rest of the Robinson family – are headed to Paris where Russell will represent the United States in the Olympics after the triple jumper finished second at trials with a mark of 17.01m (55 feet, 9.75 inches).

“It’s very special,” Robinson said. “There are people that get [to the Olympic trials] and it’s a mental game at that point because you’ve already done all the physical work. So, just keeping yourself calm and collected and doing what you need to do and blocking out all the pressure and all the expectations that everybody has on you, it’s the biggest thing you can do to perform well that day. So, yeah, it’s very special knowing that you are one of the top athletes and that you’re able to perform under pressure.

“Actually, my dad showed up to the meet and after the whole meet was over and I was going through the processing system, he walked down to the track and sent me some videos and was like, ‘Wow, I’m just standing here on this runway where you normally start your run and where you’re taking off and the stadium is empty, but you’re down here with thousands of people watching. It’s intimidating and I salute you and respect you even more for what you do because I didn’t realize how tough it was to be in the position you were in.’”

For Robinson, delivering big performances while under pressure has become the norm.

The senior jumper from Windermere, Florida arrived at Miami as a walk-on, unsure how his journey as a college student-athlete would unfold.

He’d competed in a variety of sports in high school and was primarily a long jumper on his school’s track team. He decided to add triple jumping to his resume in an effort to try and catch the attention of a college coach.

Even though he was somewhat self-taught in the triple jump, those efforts paid off when both Miami and Florida State offered him the opportunity to join their respective programs.

Robinson settled on Miami, believing it was in Coral Gables where he could have a lasting impact on a rapidly improving men’s program.

His instincts weren’t wrong, even if he arrived on campus with little experience in the event that would become his strength.

But he dedicated himself to his work on the track, in the weight room and was open to learning from Hurricanes assistant coach Rob Jarvis, who works with Miami’s jumpers and multi-event student-athletes.

Now, Robinson is an Olympian.

“He’s made his name for himself, and his name will be on that wall forever,” Jarvis said. “I always tell the kids where they can see in a signature how a doctor has ‘MD’ on their name, or a lawyer has ‘esquire.’ Well, an Olympian will always have the letters ‘OLY’ after their name and he’s earned it. … It’s remarkable when you think of the trajectory. But it’s just a testament to the level of determination he had, just the goal setting and believing in himself. Obviously, what we were doing got him to that point. I just say it over and over again, how proud I am of just what he’s done, and it speaks volumes to the man that he is.”

Added Amy Deem, Miami’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, “When I see somebody who can make an Olympic team and do the things Russ has done, it’s because he’s bought in. He bought into the program. He came in and he wanted to be good, so he did the things we asked him to do. … Coach Jarvis believed in his ability from the first time he watched him in the recruiting process but sometimes, it takes an athlete a little longer to catch up with that. Sometimes, it takes a little bit longer for them to see it in themselves, so his ability to trust the process, to trust his training and really believe he could do it. It’s all just come together for him. And it’s very exciting to see somebody who works hard, who does the right things and trusts the process, to have it all come together like it did for him.”

Now, Robinson will look to add more memorable moments to what has already been an unforgettable year.

He’s looking forward to soaking up all of the Olympic experience, from sightseeing in Paris with his family, to hopefully having the chance to watch some of his fellow American athletes like gymnast Simone Biles and basketball player LeBron James compete.

And just as he did at the U.S. Trials and in Boston at the NCAA indoor championships, he’s hopeful he can put together another big performance that could potentially have him leaving Paris with a medal.

“It’s going to take a big [number], a personal best, but it’s not unachievable,” Robinson said. “At the U.S. Trials, I had some big jumps in the qualification round that really boosted my confidence, so now, it’s been about getting back in the lab and working on those little things that I need to do to get that jump consistently.

“It’s going to be tough because now that we’re at the Olympics, it’s the best of the best athletes. But it’ll be exciting to compete against them. It can bring out more potential in yourself because now you’re competing, not just wanting to get to the Olympics. You want to make that final and that podium. It’s definitely going to be tough, but it’ll be fun and if I go out there and do what I need to do and I’m feeling good that day, I could put out a big number that could potentially put me up there.”