ATHLETIC SUCCESSES:
Jim has been ranked as the No. 1 American four times over his 14-year competitive career, and nine times he has been ranked in the top 10 in the world. After running for Indiana University, where he is a member of the athletic Hall of Fame, he began to compete internationally. Jim qualified for three Olympic teams - twice in the 1500m with finishes of fifth in 1984 and eighth in 1992, then in 1996 he qualified in the 5000m and reached the semi-final round. In World Championship competition, he won the bronze medal in 1987 in the 1500m, and in 1993 he finished fifth. Jim is now retired from competitive running, but still holds the American record in the 2000m, and his time of 3:31.01 is still the second fastest ever run by an American in the 1500m.

CAREER PATH:
Jim has worked in various capacities throughout his training and since his retirement. He began working as an intern with the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis. He then took a position as Director of Affiliate Relations for a network of 54 radio stations in Indiana. Eventually he became an Account Executive for the NBA's Indiana Pacers. In 1996, Jim returned to track, taking a coaching position as Assistant Coach for North Central College. He soon moved on to the University of Chicago, where he served as Head Coach for both the men's and women's track and cross-country teams. Most recently Jim has moved to Nashville where he will begin this fall as Assistant Coach at Vanderbilt University. Additionally, from 1990-2001 he coached adult runners in Chicago through his Jim Spivey Running Club.

JIM'S WORDS OF WISDOM:
"Training to make an Olympic Team challenges you to be positive about life. Being an Olympian may open a door for employment, but a network of contacts is critical."

"When you are an athlete, you have the ability to be selfish. What I found difficult after I retired was that other people had timelines too, which were just as important, or often more important than mine. For 15 years, I was able to dictate my schedule and everyone was willing to adjust their schedules to mine. We train to be the best in the world and many times we put on blinders to get there. It is easily justified in our minds - putting off when to have children, continuing education, post-career opportunities. When your athletic career comes to an end, the adjustment is difficult, as you have to start back on the low rung of the ladder for employment."