Cooper Lutkenhaus: US track phenom on family ties, LA 2028 and balancing stardom with high school

Cooper Lutkenhaus became the youngest world champion in indoor track and field history earlier this year. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

George Lutkenhaus and his family were rushing to the airport. There was a plane to catch and traffic was bad. Inside the car was a tense silence. In the back, a teenager, minding his own business, AirPods in, seemingly oblivious. Wife Tricia turned to George. “Are you OK?” she said.

“No, I am not OK!” he replied. “What just happened there was not normal! And he’s just sitting there in the back … ”