Three world champion medals sat behind one 2025 Trojan Arena judge.
His name is Greg Nixon. He is not only a businessman, but also a former track athlete with a history of success. Specializing in the longest sprint, Nixon holds two USA championships in the 400-meter dash and three World Championship victories in the 4x400-meter relay.
The six-foot entrepreneur traveled to Taylor University to judge the “Shark Tank” competition held on Nov. 20. Entrepreneurs-in-residence Nick and Molly Pastermack connected Nixon to Taylor. They previously worked together in New Orleans.
Nixon mentored students and athletes during his short visit to campus. Dressed in a black pullover with “salvation” printed on the back, he met with Taylor track athletes for dinner and spoke in an entrepreneurship class led by the Pastermacks.
Nixon’s track career started later than usual. Originally a college football standout at Howard Payne University, he obliged the track coach’s wish to join a second sports team. He began running in circles his junior year, but only to stay in shape for the NFL Scouting Combine.
The combine quickly became a second thought as Nixon won the NCAA Division III 200-meter dash after training for just a few months. The Houston Texans scouted Nixon, but one of the coaches advised him to stay in track after seeing his national results.
When HPU’s track program closed following Nixon’s first season, he said he wanted to quit.
Despite the closing, Nixon ultimately decided his career wasn’t over.
A football coach facilitated practices during Nixon’s senior year. Nixon convinced football teammates to train and run relays alongside him. Inconvenience fueled his trust in God as he balanced engineering classes and athletics.
“It’s never meant to be comfortable,” Nixon said. “Stop thinking about the decision and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It will release the pressure off of yourself. As a believer, it’s something outside of you that is taking care of you.”
That year, Nixon coached himself into winning two national titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter races.
He followed post-collegiate coaching to Arizona and Texas. He said betting on himself was not rewarding at first.
“I used to go home and cry,” Nixon said. “I wanted to break barriers, but it was hard. I was so terrified. Everyone is on their knees; everyone is praying to someone in the back rooms.”
Through prayer and hard work, he received sponsorship and began traveling the world to race.
Nixon’s first paramount performance resulted in a silver medal for him and his team in the 4x400-meter relay at the 2007 Pan American Games. He upgraded to gold at the 2008 and 2010 World Indoor Championships and 2011 World (outdoor) Championships in the same race.
“I would go back to my hotel room after every race and give it straight to God,” Nixon said. “Win or lose.”
Nixon also continued his academic career through night classes for architectural engineering. He eventually decided to prioritize being a professional athlete, falling short of a master’s degree by six credits.
After athletic retirement, Nixon founded NIX ELITE Athletic Apparel. The company created zip-away compression tights that could be taken off over spikes. Taylor’s track and field program was its first customer.
He lives in Atlanta with his wife and business partner, Nicole Nixon, and their two sons: Gregory Nixon III “G3” and Amari.
Though he experienced achievement in business and athletics, Nixon attributed his ultimate success to prayer and the One he prayed to.
