St. Paul sprinter Emmanuel Matadi hopes to medal, create opportunities for others

Jul. 30—There were times over the past five years when Emmanuel Matadi wasn't sure he wanted to keep running. He had achieved the Olympic dream — running for Liberia in Rio in 2016 — and experienced a few bad years on the track where he didn't know if he would be able to make it again.

But a couple of things kept him going.

One was disappointment. The 2016 Games did not go as planned. The 2009 St. Paul Johnson High School grad didn't advance to the semifinals in either sprint.

"I told myself, 'I'm not going out like that,' " said Matadi, who will run the 100- and 200-meter dashes for Liberia. The 100-meter prelims start at 9:35 p.m. Central on Friday, with the first round set to begin at 5:45 a.m. Saturday. "I'm like, 'Yo, I'm too good to go out the first round.' That's definitely in my mind. It's definitely some fuel."

As is a bigger purpose. As much as Matadi wants to succeed in these Olympics, he's already thinking about what he can do after them. He sees a bigger picture.

Matadi takes great pride in representing Liberia on and off the track. He's aiming to grow the team and wants to help kids currently growing up in the African nation.

"We don't really have an outlet for kids to go to college through sports, so I really want to go back and set something up so we can have this pipeline between the U.S. and Liberia where college scouts can come and recruit kids," Matadi said, "just to create more opportunity."

Being a two-time Olympian helps give Matadi the platform and credibility needed to create those connections.

"It allows people to listen to me, because people love idols. So I think it allows people to give me an ear to listen, and it obviously shows I know a little bit of what I'm doing," Matadi said. "That's the biggest thing, the platform. ... So (they're)just living through me for now, then they'll be able to do it themselves."

Matadi has received many messages from younger athletes — Liberian and otherwise — asking for tips on how to improve. His coach Darryl Woodson, who also is the USA Track and Field Olympic sprinter and hurdles coach, noted Matadi maintains a strong connection to his roots, both in Minnesota and Liberia.

"After the Olympics, I would love to see him go back to the community," Woodson said, "and show people there's a path, but there's a level of commitment to that path."

Matadi's impact on Liberia's Olympic team already exists. Matadi, the country's flag bearer in 2016, suggested the Liberian Olympic team reach out to famous designer Telfar Clemens, a Liberian American. Clemens designed the country's 2020 Olympic gear.

"Just me being more resourceful now and smarter in how I move to be better my own situation and other people's situations," Matadi said. "I always wanted to grow the team bigger for future Olympics. That was really the main goal. That was why I stuck around so long."

Another major step forward for Liberia would be to earn its first medal — something Matadi dreams to achieve in the coming week.

MEDAL CONTENDER?

Matadi said the year postponement was good for his personal growth on the track. It gave him time to clean up deficiencies. Matadi started working with Woodson after the 2019 World Championships. He loves his workout group, which includes Olympians Mike Rogers, Shane Brathwaite and Natasha Hastings.

Early on in the process, Woodson said he and Matadi talked through everything, finding out what works for the sprinter. Matadi found early success.

"He doesn't mind doing what it takes to improve," Woodson said. "As long as you're confident in him, then he's going to work even harder for you."

Matadi, Woodson noted, is built more like a football player than a sprinter. His Herschel Walker-like stature makes generating power a given. Woodson said Matadi's issue at times can be trying too hard. Muscles work best, he said, when they're relaxed.

These are all things Matadi is learning. The former Minnesota State-Mankato product knows more about the sport and how to attack it now than he did in 2016.

"I think going into Rio, I feel like I was in a really good spot as far as competition goes, and I went in real comfortable. I was like, 'OK, I'm pretty sure I'm going to make it through the rounds,' and that didn't happen at all," Matadi said. "Now I know how to run the rounds, how to save my energy between the rounds and just how to compete better, when it comes down to it."

Matadi is currently ranked in the top 30 in the world in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. That doesn't make him a medal favorite, but don't tell him that.

"This year, it's really, really feasible, because everybody's times are so close. This year, I'm in the conversation, so it's anybody's day, for real," Matadi said. "The mindset this year, especially, has never been like, 'OK, I'm happy I made it.' It's more of an, 'OK, I'm going and I'm really trying to make something happen.'"

Woodson's advice to anyone listening: "Do not sleep on him." The lack of expectations make Matadi a dangerous man.

"I think everything is falling into place, just with how life has been going and everything. I'm in the best position, best space to do well," Matadi said. "I think everything has been leading up to this, mentally and physically."