Middle distance runner David Torrence is certainly fleet of foot.
During a training session at Pepperdine University’s Tari Frahm Rokus Field last Saturday morning, the 30-year-old professional runner whipped around the eight-lane running track faster than most can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Torrence has raced off with medals, top finishes and records during his eight years on the pro running circuit, and later this summer, the Malibuite and Hoka One runner will get a chance to show off his high-octane speed on the world stage.
Torrence will compete in the 800- and 1,500-meter races at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The former Berkeley athlete said he is excited to line up against the top runners around the globe on the world’s biggest sports stage.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet because the games are so far away,” he said. “I know once I’m on the plane heading there it will really hit me. Right now, I’m just trying to stay focused on my training and races coming up.”
Torrence is the third athlete with Malibu connections competing in the August 5-21 summer games. The other two are swimmer Jordan Wilimovsky and gymnast Natalie McGiffert.
However, instead of wearing America’s red, white, and blue when he steps on the track in Rio, Torrence will be adorned in the red and white colors of Peru.
Torrence is representing the South American country at the Olympics thanks to a familial connection. His mother, Malibu Realtor Bianca Torrence, is a native of the country, and David still has family that lives in the nation.
Torrence initially explored the idea of competing as a runner for Peru around the time he graduated from college in 2008. He said he received wrong information at the time about how to obtain citizenship for the country, so he dropped the idea.
While competing at the Pan American Games in Toronto last summer, Torrence had a chance encounter with the Peruvian Olympic Committee president. Torrence said the official expressed interest in getting him to run for the country. Shortly after the meeting, the ball started rolling in the process to get Torrence Peruvian citizenship. The International Olympic Committee approved Torrence’s application for citizenship on June 2.
Torrence said he is proud to represent Peru. He said his mother’s home nation does not have many Olympians.
“I am representing a whole country, a whole people, my family, my heritage,” Torrence said of running for Peru. “I want to make an impact with people. I love the U.S., my American fans, but they have plenty of heroes to look up to. I think it is about a country that does not have the same benefits and heroes to look up to.”
David’s mother, Bianca, said she is proud of her son and is looking forward to watching him in Brazil.
“He is going to do great,” she shared. “He has been running and representing the U.S. since he was 17. Him representing Peru is positive, because Peru is so underrepresented.”
Torrence said he is going to Peru a week or two before the summer games to prepare for the humidity and temperatures he will experience running in Brazil.
“I haven’t dialed down exactly when I will be in Rio de Janeiro, but I want to make sure I’m definitely there for the opening ceremony,” he said.
Torrence’s run towards the Olympics began when as a teen he finished second at an all-comers track meet at Birmingham High School in Reseda.
“It really spoke to me, the individual competitive nature of the sport,” Torrence said. “In a team sport, whether you win or lose, it’s a shared thing. You share the victory; you share the loss. In track, it’s very much you. How hard were you able to push? How hard were you able to dig? How much pain were you willing to endure? That really resonated with me.”
Torrence said there are major running championships every year, but competing in the Olympics has always been one of his goals.
“I don’t want to get to the Olympics just to step on the track,” Torrence said. “I want to get there to compete and get a medal.
Bianca said she will be in Rio cheering on her son.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to miss it.”