Manteo Mitchell

Manteo Mitchell is an American Olympic medal-winning sprinter and bobsledder, known for reaching remarkable athletic excellence and fortified mental strength. A native of Shelby, North Carolina, he would go on to Western Carolina University, where he set school records in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m, and 4x400m relays, while earning a degree in Sport Management and a Master’s in Comprehensive Physical Education. A sprinter specializing in the 200m, 400m, and 4x400m relay, he gained international fame at the 2012 London Olympics, where he ran the first leg of the 4x400m relay preliminary round with a broken fibula, completing his lap in 45.7 seconds despite the injury, helping the U.S. team qualify for the final and earn a silver medal.

Transitioning to bobsledding in 2021, Mitchell became a push athlete, competing in the Bobsleigh World Cup by late 2022. He achieved a fifth-place finish in the two-man event at the 2023 IBSF World Championships, the best U.S. result since 2013. He aims to become the first African-American male to medal in both Summer and Winter Olympics at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Mitchell is a mental health advocate, serving as an ambassador for Active Minds, inspired by his 2012 Olympic experience and personal challenges, including a serious car accident in 2016 that injured his Achilles.