Trevor Barron: One Step at a Time

Track & Field is widely regarded as the premiere event of the Olympic Games. It has made legends of Carl Lewis, Bruce Jenner, Michael Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, to name a few.

Sprinters are marveled at. Decathletes celebrated. Marathoners lauded. 

However, there is one discipline that gets little recognition and even less respect. 

Racewalking. 

You’ve probably seen it. Perhaps you’ve been one to snicker at the sight of a bunch of guys clumped together, walking funny and have wondered “What are they doing?”

What most people do not know is that racewalking is one of the oldest events of the Modern Olympics. Since 1904, athletes have been competing with little to no notice, particularly in the United States.   

Enter Trevor Barron, a 19-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania who is garnering a lot of attention in the racewalking world.

Barron took up the sport about ten years ago and showed immediate promise despite suffering from a rare form of epilepsy. With the help of brain surgeries in 2006 that curbed his seizures, Trevor has continued to improve and is now competing on the international level.

He is aiming to represent the United States at this summer’s Olympic Games, and some say there is even a chance that he could bring home a medal in the 20K event. After all, Barron can cover one mile in just over six minutes. You read that correctly–six minutes. 

Trevor, his father, Bruce, and his coach, Tim Seaman, each sat down with Bleacher Report to shed some light on this event and Trevor’s place in it as he prepares to compete on the world’s biggest stage. 

Director/Producer: Sarah Kreiger

Editor: Jacques del Conte

DP: John Britt, Lou Yellin

Special Thanks to:

Trevor Barron

Bruce Barron

Tim Seaman

USA Track & Field

Adam Schmenk

Ross Krempley