Episode 54: Markeith Price - USA Paralympian, Visually Impaired Track & Field Athlete

Today’s guest is Markeith Price. Markeith is a visually impaired track & field athlete from Baltimore, MD who competes in track & field, specializing in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints and long jump events. At the Rio 2016 Games, he achieved his best Paralympic result, a 5^th place finish in the 400m. Markeith’s dream is to reach the medals podium at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics and of course, strive for the gold medal. At age 3, Markeith was diagnosed with optic atrophy, a rare and permanent visual impairment caused by damage to the optic nerve. In Markeith’s case, his optic nerves were not fully developed at birth. Never allowing his loss of vision to slow down his body or his mind, Markeith embraced sport and fell in love with running. Markeith is a college graduate and is passionate about promoting the value of education. In 2013, Markeith founded the I C You Foundation, which serves the Baltimore community by providing scholarships and resources to visually impaired students and funding to various schools of the blind. He’s also working on getting his Master’s in Information Systems to support his entrepreneurial ventures and post-pro running career. In this interview, we discuss how Markeith has had to adjust his training due to the pandemic, what it’s been like for him to live with optic atrophy, his love of running and fashion, and his quest to medal at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

Timestamps

00:03:08 Adjusting due to the pandemic

00:06:22 Dealing with the news that the Paralympics were canceled

00:07:48 Specific training adjustments during the pandemic

00:11:42 Growing up in Baltimore, MD

00:14:44 Where his self-motivation comes from

00:16:00 Optic Atrophy and how it affects his vision

00:24:03 When he found his love for running

00:26:55 Running track at Division I Tennessee State University

00:30:20 Getting disqualified in track

00:33:23 His interest in fashion and starting a new business

00:40:45 Career ambitions post Paralympic career

00:44:18 When he set his sights on becoming a Paralympian

00:46:53 Road to becoming a Paralympian

00:48:40 Process of accepting his disability

00:51:05 The events that he competes in

00:53:00 Missing out on the Beijing Paralympics

00:57:14 Experience at his first Paralympic Games

01:01:52 Goal for Tokyo Paralympics

01:02:55 His weekly training schedule

01:12:40 How he trains his mind

01:19:46 Biggest athlete influences for him

01:23:55 What he wants to accomplish 5 years from now

01:26:17 His daily routine

01:29:00 His driving force

01:29:49 Parting words of wisdom around staying driven