Hurdler could have made it in the NFL

David Oliver was a highly-rated wide receiver at college before he decided aged 22 to concentrate on track. Spikesmag.com caught up with the world’s No.1 hurdler to talk about his passion for American football.

“I’ve loved American football since forever and I’ve been a Miami Dolphins fan since third grade.

I liked them because they had a player called Louis Oliver, who shared the same surname as me, so that is why they’ve become my favourite team even though I am from Denver.

I also played football at high school and college (Howard University) and I think if I concentrated totally in football I would have made it.

When I was at college I had interest from the Minnesota Vikings, the Dolphins and New Orleans Saints but I was well into track and I wanted to give that a shot.

I think it was because I enjoy individual sports more. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the camaraderie of the locker room in a team sport but I like the fact that when you cross the line first in track and field nobody can tell me I’m not the best.

I don’t even really miss playing any longer, I’ve moved on, that chapter is closed. Now I’ve got this track chapter which is still open.

I think playing the sport of American football really helped because it is all about aggression and you need that aggression in hurdles.

You can’t be a patsy or a sheep in hurdles as you need an aggressive mentality for track.

My favourite memory of watching the Miami Dolphins was when they bounced back from winning just one game in 2007 to winning their division the following year. 2007 was a real low for the franchise but to come back the following year meant I had a lot to cheer. It was the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history.

I like to catch a couple of Miami games live each season. I’ll drive to Jacksonville or Tampa which is maybe an hour’s drive from where I live to watch the Dolphins.

I have a personalised Dolphins jersey with my name and the number 17 on the back, which was my old number when I played.

I’ve never really been into idolising players, though. My favourite is whoever plays for Miami.”