West Orange’s Russell Robinson takes improbable path to Paris Olympics

Football was Russell Robinson’s life from fourth grade through high school.

But things shifted once he attended West Orange . His coaches made him take up another sport during the summer to stay physically active, so Robinson chose track to improve his speed and agility for football.

He hasn’t looked back since. A national champion and owner of several West Orange and University of Miami records, the Windermere native will compete in the triple jump at the Paris Olympics. Qualification is Aug. 7 with the final two days later.

Robinson placed second at the U.S. Olympic Trials, qualifying him for a spot in the world’s biggest competitive sports stage.

Triple jumpers Russell Robinson, Donald Scott qualify for Paris Olympic Games

“Everything for the last year that we’ve planned out has happened,” Robinson told the Sentinel. “It’s been a fun journey. I feel very deserving for the opportunity to go to Paris and represent Team USA.”

As a youth, Robinson dreamed of playing football professionally. Although he indulged in a plethora of sports — soccer, track and basketball — football came first.

But he took track more seriously in 2018, his junior year, after winning the FHSAA Class 4A long jump, followed by a state triple-jump title the next year. Robinson realized this avenue could open more doors for him at the collegiate level.

The recruitment letters he received pretty much sealed the deal in his pivot away from football. Although he was a 2019 Sentinel All-area track-and-field performer , Robinson wasn’t recruited by powerhouse programs.

“It was either focus on track and follow this journey where I’m already getting recruited for it, or I could go with football where I’m not getting recruited at all and I’m going to have to try and put on weight,” Robinson said. “So I just thought track would be the smarter way to get me to college and get a better education.”

Amid all his success, Robinson always remembers his high school coaches, David Peaco and Patrecia “Coach P” Daniley-Porter.

Robinson said he “wouldn’t be at this level” without their guidance and assistance. The track star even recalls Peaco’s efforts for him even without being under his direct coaching line.

“He wasn’t my specific event coach, but he was a coach that believed in me, believed that I could be competing at a high level, and he was reaching out to coaches around the country trying to help me get recruited into college,” Robinson said.

That belief carried over to the next level, where he is the Hurricanes’ all-time record holder in the indoor (16.59 meters) and the outdoor triple jump (17.12m), as well as the outdoor long jump (7.99m).

Robinson, who won this year’s NCAA indoor triple jump, believed he elevated the standard of Miami track and field, giving the school national recognition in the sport.

“A lot of people look to those SEC schools that are really big and have a lot of history with people going to the school,” Robinson said. “Miami didn’t really produce a lot of jumpers like that. The school’s records were kind of low, so my goal was to come in here, break these records, and become the best jumper that Miami’s ever had.”

When asked about his journey to the Olympics, Robinson said he wished he had taken track more seriously in high school. But then, reflecting on his success, he realized his current position is exactly where he needs to be.