Triple Jump Champ Donald Scott Uses Olympic Knowledge To Train Athletes At D1 Gainesville

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As a three-sport athlete at Apopka (Fla.) High School, Donald Scott was always training, whether it was for the football field, the track or the volleyball court,

"Training plays and has played a major role in my life when it comes to anything athletically that I’ve done," says Scott, now a coach at D1 Gainesville. "There's a lot you must want to learn and work on all the pieces to put the big picture together."

Through that training, Scott was offered a football scholarship to Eastern Michigan University and also walked onto the track team, where he competed in triple jump.

It was there where Scott found success, bringing home nine Mid-American Conference titles and two NCAA Division 1 All-American honors.

Scott competed in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics in Triple Jump and is already training for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles on top of the 2025 World Outdoor Championships in Tokyo. 

"Preparation for 2028 Olympic games started as soon as I got done in Paris last summer," Scott said. "It's every 4 years so each year you must plan for whatever major championship is that year plus the international circuit meets and national championships."

But Scott also loves training athletes, helping them accomplish their own athletic goals.

"I get to take my knowledge and feed it into others to help them achieve their own dreams," he said. "That’s huge to me."

At D1 Gainesville, he found the perfect place to become a trainer.

"I’ve always wanted a one-stop shop where athletes and regulars can come in to get a speed, strength, core and conditioning workout," Scott said. "My goal for D1 Gainesville is to help make the community better all around. Whether you’re an athlete or a soccer mom, I want to make an impact to anyone’s life because fitness and sports performance are key."

This June, Coach Scott will be a speaker at the annual D1 Coach Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana.

For him, it's an opportunity to describe how fitness changed his life.

"Playing sports was my escape from a lot of childhood traumas and I always just used it to get away from what I was feeling. I would like to just share my own personal story with everyone and how I got to where I am at in life now."

Franchise Focus

D1 Mesquite recently celebrated its three-year anniversary, helping build a training community in Mesquite, Texas. 

Light Lifts

• I avoided weight training for years. Here's why I learned to love it (Washington Post)

• Can you pass the Army's new fitness test? (New York Times)

• A living, breathing wellness carnival (Athletech) 

D1 Daily is produced by Dom Bonvissuto & Ty Wellemeyer