MANCHESTER – Andrew Valmon is Mr. Olympics.
The former Manchester Township High School standout blazed to gold medals in Seoul, South Korea, in 1988 and Barcelona, Spain, in 1992 as a member of Team USA’s men’s 4×400-meter relay quartet.
And in 2012, he coached Team USA to 29 medals – nine gold, 13 silver and seven bronze – at the London Olympics. It was the second highest medal count in Olympics history.
These days, the 1983 graduate was busy busy busy at the Paris Olympics – as Team USA’s men’s track and field chairman. Valmon is the first gold medalist in history to return to the Olympic Games as head coach of the USA men’s team.
“Once an Olympian – always an Olympian,” Valmon said. “Never former.”
Running a 44.4 split on the leadoff leg in Barcelona, Valmon powered his team to the world record in 2:55.74 – a mark set in 1968.
“I gave us a strong lead,” he said. “I was honored, prepared and excited to run. I was a veteran who was reliable on that leg. I was absolutely happy to be running on that leg. We were on the same page as a team and were committed to the victory.
“Winning something as significant as an Olympic Gold can never be replicated. It’s the ultimate accomplishment. The 1992 medal is more meaningful to me than the medal we won in 1988 because of the world record.”
Valmon marched in opening ceremonies with the Dream Team, which consisted of several of the National Basketball Association’s top players.
“It was my biggest thrill of the Olympics,” he said.
Valmon was honored on Andrew Valmon Day at Bowker Field in Manchester in front of an estimated 300 fans, including his mother, Norma Valmon, after starring in Seoul. A Wednesday in 1988 was dubbed Andrew Valmon Day by Manchester officials. She enjoyed every second of the two-hour ceremony, emceed by Manchester coach Rob Conover.
“There aren’t enough words to describe my feelings,” she said at the ceremony. “I am thrilled, overwhelmed and proud to be the mother of young man at the Olympics. I thought track would end in high school and college.”
To this day, Valmon remains touched by Andrew Valmon Day.
“I am honored – and truly blessed – to have been a part of this experience,” he said.
Valmon cut a large, colorful, Olympic-themed cake as fans roared their approval. He and his mom enjoyed South Korea. They spent money as fast as Valmon burned around the Olympic oval.
“I bought four business suits, some ties, shoes and a briefcase,” he said. “My mom (who was able to attend the Olympics because of the Seagram’s Coolers-sponsored Send the Families program) spent all of Seagram’s money.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the fiery Conover noted that Valmon, a 6-foot-1, 167-pounder, sped to three All-America honors at Seton Hall University. Valmon graduated in 1987 with a communications degree.
“He drove me to many of my college visits and as a coach he was a great motivator who pushed me to the highest heights,” said Valmon, who also competed in basketball and baseball for the Hawks. “I was a late bloomer. I did not run until high school. I was primarily focused on basketball. I ran track because my brothers, Oscar and Ricardo, ran track.
“I went out for track to please Mr. Conover. I left basketball and concentrated on track and things started to click and I went faster and faster.”
And farther and farther around the world. He’s met with Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama after his Olympic feats.
Using speed as his passport, Valmon has competed in numerous states and foreign nations, including Switzerland, Spain, Italy, West Germany, France and Japan. He sped to berths on 13 U.S. National Teams, earning gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games, the 1993 World Championships and the 1994 Goodwill Games.
He was ranked as high as fourth in the world in the 400 at various times. He was on the 1993 World Championships 4×400 team which set a world record in 2:54.29.
Now the head track and field coach at the University of Maryland, Valmon, 59, is married to Meredith Rainey-Valmon, a seven-time United States national champion and a two-time Olympian in the women’s 800. The couple and their children (Travis, Maya and Mallory) reside in Rockville, Md.
Through the 2023 season, Valmon’s Terrapins earned 54 All-America honors. More than 50 school records were established. Valmon founded the Avenue Program, designed to positively impact the lives of underprivileged youths by introducing them to successful athletes and professionals as well as organizing track and field clinics.
