# Are Elite Runners Born - or Built? | Jake Wightman, World Champion

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-runna-podcast-6896622/are-elite-runners-born-or-built-jake-wightman-world-champion
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-runna-podcast-6896622/are-elite-runners-born-or-built-jake-wightman-world-champion.md
Podcast: [The Runna Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-runna-podcast-6896622)
Published: 2026-02-06T05:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/therunnapodcast/episodes/are-elite-runners-born-or-built-jake-wightman-world-champion
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6632074568745800121a1ea7/e/6984b316edbd9158ae40069b/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-runna-podcast-6896622/episodes/are-elite-runners-born-or-built-jake-wightman-world-champion
Duration seconds: 3515

## Resource

Are elite runners born, or built? This week on The Runna Podcast, 1500m World Champion Jake Wightman reveals the training secrets and mindset shifts that helped him beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen and conquer the world stage. Jake shares the reality of middle-distance running at the highest level with Coaches Ben and Anya. From the "Nature vs. Nurture" debate and the unique pressure of being coached by his father, to the exact tactics used to win Gold in 2022, this episode is a masterclass in elite performance. Highlights include:  👟 Father-Son Coaching: Navigating a unique dynamic within professional athletics  🧬 Born or Built?: Genetics, rivalry & the "performance-first" mindset 🥇 Beating Jakob Ingebrigtsen: The 1500m tactics that won World Gold  ⚖️ The Cost of Gold: Navigating injury cycles & finding balance. Whether you're chasing a running PB or just love the sport, you won’t want to miss Jake’s insights on rebuilding after injury and targeting the LA 2028 Olympics!  🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community.  🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26 And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛 📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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