“At that point, it's all about your preparation and mental game. In those last few weeks, there's not really a lot you can do to get better. I knew going in: ‘This is what I've got. I've got to bring the best out of myself.’” Marco Arop is the reigning World champion and Olympic silver medalist in the 800 meters. Marco isn’t just one of the fastest men in the world—he’s one of the most fearless. In 2024, he clocked a blazing 1:41.20 to set the North American record and move up to No. 4 on the all-time list. Now, he’s setting his sights on breaking the seemingly untouchable 1:40.91 world record—a mission his team has dubbed ‘Project 99.’ But Marco isn’t stopping there. He’s bringing his talent and ambition to Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track for its inaugural season in 2025, joining a star-studded lineup of middle-distance legends like Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse. Known for his dominance in the 800 meters, Marco will also test his limits in the 1500, pushing himself and the competition in ways we’ve never seen before. Marco joins us to reflect on his incredible 2024 season, discuss the challenges of Grand Slam Track, and share his journey toward becoming the first man to run an 800m under 100 seconds. Take this interview on-the-go and listen to it in podcast form: 🎧 SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/3CaeqJX 🎧 APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/4fImeAB FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join