By Kyle LoJacono
East Pasco County resident Jason Rouser can always say he has been to the top of the medal stands in the Olympics while the Star-Spangled Banner played in the background.
In 1996, Rouser was part of the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team that brought home the gold medal.
“To be able to represent the United States, my family and all my teammates and friends, it was a tremendous experience,” Rouser said. “It was something I always wanted to do. It’s amazing to me how excited people are even today when that was back in 1996.”

Rouser’s journey toward the Olympics started in his home state of Oklahoma in ninth grade when he watched another athlete bring home the gold.
“When I saw Carl Lewis win his four gold medals in Los Angeles in 1984, I said I want to do that,” Rouser said. “That was my ninth-grade year.
“It just came naturally to me,” Rouser continued. “I’ve always been tall, 6-foot-6, and I had the same speed as the shorter sprinters. I just took a little longer to get to top speed, but then I can chase people down. I just love to run.”
Rouser, who also played tight end and safety on the football team in high school, received a scholarship to run track at the University of Oklahoma during the glory days of Sooner football under coach Barry Switzer.
“I so badly wanted to play for coach Switzer,” Rouser said. “I had the opportunity to go to the University of Oklahoma in high school to compete in an event and he said to me ‘Rouser, you going to set some records today?’ That got me excited because he knew my name. Oklahoma recruited me heavily for track and the track coach there at the time told me I wasn’t playing any football if I have a scholarship for track.”
In 1992, Rouser tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in the 200 and 400-meter events. He was the only athlete to go for two that year, but he did not qualify.
“I had to wait those four long years, but I made it in 1996,” Rouser said. “The rest is history.”
Rouser came to east Pasco in 2002 and has been the coach of the Zephyrhills High girls track and field team the last three seasons. He also joined the Stewart Middle staff as an intensive reading teacher last October.
Rouser relishes the chance to teach young athletes how to get better.
“When I was in high school there were some athletes I looked up to, and the things that they taught me helped me become a gold medal winner,” Rouser said. “I wanted to teach these athletes so they can have the opportunity to earn a college scholarship and then possibly go to the next level to represent their country in the world championships or the Olympics.”
Zephyrhills junior runner Julia Hines has complete faith in Rouser’s methods.
“I’ve just learned to trust him,” Hines said. “Some things he’ll say and I’ll think ‘what,’ but I’ve learned to just trust it and go along with it. It’s made me faster.”
Rouser has also helped Bulldogs’ freshman Kara Young with her technique.
“In middle school track they didn’t teach a whole lot,” Young said. “He showed me how to start right, get low and get faster.”
Rouser also has a personal training business called Goal Works.
“It’s for any athlete who wants to get faster, stronger, better agility and conditioning, but it’s not just for serious athletes,” Rouser said. “We also have a large group who do it just to get in better health. I do personal training as well as coaching the kids here at Zephyrhills High School.”
For more information on Goal Works, visit www.goalworks.net.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.