Tahmar Upshaw Surpassed What He Thought Was Possible With World Record At The Bryan Clay Invitational

When Tahmar Upshaw steps onto the track, he repeats a simple mantra: 

In order to change, I have to be something I’m not. 

“When I get on the line,” Upshaw said, “if you want to compete, you have to surpass your previous self. Find something else; dig deeper.”

Upshaw did just that on April 17 when he broke the men’s 800-meter T46 world record, finishing in 1 minute and 48.80 seconds at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California. 

Upshaw’s time shattered the previous record of 1:51.82, which Austria’s Gunther Matzinger achieved during the 2012 London Paralympic Games to win gold. 

Heading into the event, Upshaw believed that a record-setting performance was possible. 

“I definitely knew I was fit enough to go for the record,” Upshaw said. “We had planned to do this since January – make an attempt at Bryan Clay. I had run a really close time to the record. It was more just about making sure I was running in lane 1, that I didn’t get tripped up or stuck. I woke up that day knowing I could set the record. … I was definitely ready for the moment.”

In fact, Upshaw was so prepared physically and mentally that he wasn’t even surprised to break the record. If anything, he was more stunned to run 1:48.80. 

At the 600-meter mark, Upshaw caught a glimpse of his split (1:20) and felt something special was unfolding. 

“I knew we were flying,” he said. “I knew this was going to be fast.”

So, when the final time posted, Upshaw was ready to erupt.

“I was definitely hype,” he said. “You could hear me screaming.” 

For Upshaw, the moment was about more than just breaking a record. It was a reminder of how hard he’s worked, how much he’s overcome and how he’s surpassed even his greatest expectations.

When he first started competed in track collegiately in the spring of 2023, Upshaw’s dream was to run a sub-1:50 in the 800. 

 “So when I saw it was 1:48, that not only was a dream come true to break 1:50 but it showed that sub-1:50 was not the max of my ability,” he said

It may, however, have marked the peak of his popularity.

“When I got the record, my phone was blowing up,” he said. “My phone ended up dying. It took me an hour and a half to go through it all. That was probably the most attention I’ve ever gotten.”

More eyes will be on Upshaw moving forward. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native is now a big man on campus at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he’s a redshirt junior following earlier stints at NAIA Cumberland University and Middle Tennessee. 

He’s also on Team USA’s radar for upcoming Para track competitions, including the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. He previously competed for Team USA at the Parapan American Games in 2023, winning silver medals in the 400-meter T47 and the 1,500-meter T46, although he has not qualified for any Team USA squads since, in part due to foot injuries.

“That is the goal,” Upshaw said of the 2028 Paralympics. “I 100% wake up every day, go to practice every day, race every race thinking about what I have to do get back on the team. … I think I can be super competitive and win for a while, but LA 2028 — I 100% plan on being there.”

Given how well Upshaw is running at the moment, there’s no reason to doubt him.

“That 1:48 really did it,” he said. “That was probably the best day ever. That record definitely meant everything to me. It’s been a great year, but that record was the cherry on top.”

It’s been a long road to this point for Upshaw, who was born with a brachial plexus injury that limits the use of his right arm. He is also a relative newcomer to the Para track circuit, as he competed in his first Para track meet in 2023.

“I’ve lived like this my whole life,” Upshaw said, “but without Para, I never would have pushed this hard to get better. It’s been a blessing.”

The ultimate blessing for Upshaw, from a competitive standpoint, is taking the track on behalf of his country. 

“Team USA is the top,” he said. “When people see you in the red, white and blue, they know you’re a serious athlete. It’s just a dream come true. That’s the stuff you watch on TV and you think, ‘Man I wish I could do something like that.’ And now that opportunity is literally right in front of me. I just have to go grab it.”

Drew Silverman is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.