The Freeze, the Braves, and What Happens When Dreams Change Posted by George Parker on May 02, 2025

The Race That Braves Fans Can’t Stop Talking About

If you've ever been to a Braves game at Truist Park, you've probably seen it.

One fan. One race. One chance to outrun The Freeze.

The setup is simple: the race is about 200 meters long, stretching along the warning track from foul pole to foul pole. Before the race even begins, the fan is given a monster head start—not a few feet, but a massive lead. The kind of head start where anyone watching thinks, there’s no way they can lose.

But then The Freeze takes off.

And every time (or nearly every time), he wins.

The reason The Freeze wins isn't just because he’s fast. It’s because he’s more than just an average guy in a turquoise suit.

The Freeze is Nigel Talton—a former collegiate sprinter with real-world speed. Nigel posted personal bests of 10.47 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.66 seconds in the 200 meters. He set his sights on qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 meters—the crown jewel of sprinting—but fell just short of the 10.16 qualifying time.

Three-tenths of a second.

That was the difference between chasing an Olympic dream and needing a new direction.

Most of us, faced with that kind of heartbreak, might have walked away from the sport entirely. Nigel didn’t.

While working as part of the Braves’ grounds crew to pay the bills, Nigel found a different kind of race—a different kind of spotlight. He stepped into the suit. He stepped onto the warning track. And he became The Freeze—a local legend known not for medals, but for unforgettable moments.

Every race at Truist Park is a reminder: you might not always end up where you thought you were going. But if you keep chasing, keep pushing, and stay open to what’s ahead, you might find something even better waiting for you.

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