Oliver Hoare - Swimmer turned Runner
"I would like to continue to work with him and Mick but I hope to run professionally and stay in the states doing so."
Oliver (Olli) Hoare is known for winning the NCAA 1500 metres in 2018 and being the 6th fastest indoor miler in (NCAA) Division One ever. After a bizarre final season where he hoped to cement himself among the greats to represent the Wisconsin Badgers throughout the twenty-first century, the year was cancelled. With his accolades to long to list in this story, Olli Hoare has deserved the right to put his name with Badger greats including, Chris Solinsky, Mohammad Ahmed, Simon Bairu, and Morgan McDonald. Though Hoare turned into one of the all-time greats at Wisconsin, a historically strong distance program, he was suppose to be a competitive swimmer.
Growing up in Australia, Oliver Hoare would at a young age become an endurance athlete, but it was not running, it was swimming. Hoare talks about growing up, saying, “I actually come from a swimming family. I grew up on the coast in Australia and mostly lived in the water most of my life. I went into cross country as cross training for my swimming.” Many runners often cross train by swimming, for Olive Hoare he would do the opposite as a young swimmer. While trying to improve his conditioning for swimming, he would realise where his true potential was for sports. Early into his teenage years, Hoare says, “Realising I was good at it I keep pursuing it and went into track at 15 and then was able to succeed nationally as a junior.” He continues on saying, “My most memorable moments would be my races on the track for my high school. It was awesome to be able to compete in front of a huge crowds and the CAS meet at home would have thousands of schools come together and watch in a heritage of competitiveness.” Having competed in front of thousands, Hoare would display his talent, being recognized not only in Australia but in the United States. While he would find passion and success with running, Hoare would come across some struggles. Oliver Hoare mentions some struggles, saying, “I struggled in getting into running at a higher level. I was never able to make an Australian team. Even wining national titles I’ve never had the opportunity and I have struggled to be able to get to that level. Still today I have never represented Australia but it’s one of my primal goals for the future.” Hoare’s struggles would present themselves throughout his junior career and collegiate career, but they do not stop him from trying to improve himself. Even though Hoare did not make national teams or win national titles he was noticed by colleges in the United States for his running abilities and potential.
During his years in high school, Oliver Hoare wanted to move across the globe to run and attend school in the NCAA. Hoare says there were multiple reasons why he wanted to compete in the United States, stating, “I always wanted to come to college over here in the US. I knew that the support, culture and the way in which the NCAA was able to harness athletes was something that I wanted to be apart and to help me achieve some goals on and off the track. Like going to university and keep pursuing my running at a high level.” Hoare would fulfill his dreams of running division one in the fall of 2017 when he competed for the badgers in cross country. During his time at Wisconsin, Olli Hoare would collect multiple conference titles, and all-American honors, but a few moments stood out more than any others. Hoare recollects, “The main memories is definitely winning a national championship as a sophomore. But also being able to win two penn relay wheels with the boys will be my best highlight. First two wins for the wisco squad in 103 years so that was very special to be apart of. Especially with the history and strong distance heritage of Wisconsin.” These three races were instrumental in defining Hoare as a runner, he became a Champion of both the NCAA and one of the most historic track meets in North America, Penn Relays. On his way to winning the (NCAA) Division One indoor mile, Hoare says, “I didn’t have too many difficulties leading up to the race in regards to training. It was mostly belief that I could do it. That I was just as good as those amazing competitors and I could win it. I never doubted myself and I trusted my training and my instincts in the race.” Being able to trust his skills and instincts was his biggest concern going into the race but Hoare was able too succeed. During his time at Wisconsin, Oliver Hoare would continue to cement himself in Wisconsin distance running history until days before his last NCAA indoor Championship.
Going into his last track season at the University of Wisconsin, Hoare was a favourite to win the indoor mile but he was not able to compete for a chance at a second title. The meet was cancelled days before the championships were suppose to take place because of the global crisis. Following the situation, the NCAA granted athletes an extra year of spring eligibility, but it was up to each individual school to honour this. Wisconsin would be one of the schools to not honour this eligibility, Hoare says, “It’s disappointing to see the decision that UW will not grant support for seniors who lost their final seasons but I’m looking forward for me next step in my athletic career.” This decision left Oliver Hoare with very few options to decided from in the coming weeks. Hoare would choose to go professional days after I had talk to him, to sign with an agency to represent him. Oliver Hoare was teammates with fellow Wisconsin alum and professional runner, Morgan McDonald, Hoare says, “Morgan and myself are very close. We’ve known each other since we were ten years old back in Australia. He’s one of the reasons I came to the University of Wisconsin. I would like to continue to work with him and Mick but I hope to run professionally and stay in the states doing so." One of the following two parts has come true only a few days after talking with Oliver Hoare, we will just have to wait and see where he will be training and who Hoare will race for in the future.
Oliver Hoare has transformed himself over the years from a swimmer to an elite runner. Hoare has not only one had one of the best University of Wisconsin running careers but of all collegiate runners. He now has a promising career moving forward as a professional runner wherever that may be.
Direct quotes from Oliver Hoare to Evan Smith via Direct Message. (May 2020)
Photos: getty images
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