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Scott Simmons Targets Los Angeles Olympics After India’s Distance Breakthrough
Scott Simmons is an American coach helping Indian distance runners train in Colorado Springs.
His athletes performed very well at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
Gulveer Singh won three medals in different running events.
Sawan Barwal won a marathon medal and set a new Indian record.
Seema Kumari also won a medal in the women’s 10,000m.
Simmons said steady training is important because distance running takes a long time to develop.
Indian sports groups helped athletes spend six continuous months training in the United States.
The athletes now hope their progress can help them reach the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Scott Simmons credited continuous training and support for India’s improved distance-running results at the 2026 Asian Games.
Gulveer Singh won three medals in Nagoya: silver in the 10,000m and 1,500m, plus bronze in the 5,000m.
Sawan Barwal won marathon silver in 2:11:37, setting a national record and ending India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games marathon medal.
Seema Kumari won bronze in the women’s 10,000m, India’s first Asian Games medal in the event since 2010.
Simmons said athletes training in Colorado Springs now believe they can qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Who
- American coach Scott Simmons and Indian distance runners Gulveer Singh, Sawan Barwal and Seema Kumari.
- What
- Indian distance runners won multiple medals and achieved notable records at the 2026 Asian Games after sustained training under Simmons.
- Where
- The competitions took place in Nagoya, while the athletes trained at a high-altitude base in Colorado Springs, United States.
- When
- At the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya; Simmons discussed the results on Wednesday before returning home.
- Why
- Simmons attributed the progress to consistent training, six months of preparation in the United States, athlete support programs and training alongside high-level runners.
Key facts
- Coach
- Scott Simmons, an American distance-running coach
- Gulveer Singh
- Three medals: 10,000m silver, 1,500m silver and 5,000m bronze
- Sawan Barwal
- Marathon silver in 2:11:37 and a national record
- Seema Kumari
- Women’s 10,000m bronze, India’s first Asian Games medal in the event since 2010
- Training base
- Colorado Springs, United States
- Preparation period
- Gulveer Singh trained continuously in the United States for six months before Nagoya
- Future goal
- Qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Quotes
Scott Simmons
American distance-running coach who trains Indian athletes in Colorado Springs
“He (Barwal) does have some struggles because he’s still young and he’s still new to the distance. But this was a very good build-up. It’ll be better the next time, for sure. He can make further gains through more marathon-specific preparation and hopes that progression can eventually lead to qualification for the Beijing World Championships.”
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“We obviously prepared 100% for the 10,000m. And Gulveer gave his best challenge, ending up with the silver. We thought that was his best event, but it also prepared him for the 1500m as a byproduct.”
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Sources
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