Aaliyah Butler has stepped into the role at the top American 400m sprinter in 2026. At the end of July, she became US Champion, which came just after she ran a new personal best of 48.84 at the Monaco Diamond League, becoming the 4th fastest 400m woman in American history.
Prior to 2026, Aaliyah was a multiple time NCAA Champion while at Georgia, and also won gold medals at the 2024 Olympics and 2025 World Championships as part of team USA's 4x400m relay. She is now heading into the end of the 2026 season as the only American who will compete at the Diamond League final and World Ultimate Championships.
In our conversation, we discuss Aaliyah's transition from college to the pro ranks including her approach to training, her time at Georgia and winning an NCAA Team Championship, and her 400m race strategy, including becoming the 4th fastest American women with her 48.84 at the Monaco Diamond League.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:19 2026 Season so far
02:29 Approach to 2026 season
05:12 2025 NCAA compared to 2026 pro
06:34 Changes to Training
08:20 Becoming USA Champion
11:10 Still having teammates as a pro
13:01 Winning NCAA Team Championships
17:42 Coach Caryl Smith-Gilbert
22:46 Monaco DL 48.84 Race breakdown
26:37 400m Consistency and history
30:16 Pressure at big meets
32:36 Training with Oakley in the 400m
35:54 Gold medal or world record
38:20 Poland 400m
39:10 Aaliyah off the track
