National Champions Are Made at Mizzou
3/21/2025 1:00:00 PM | Track & Field
Coming to Mizzou, Jonathan Seremes had two goals: jump 17 meters and win the NCAA Indoor Championship in the triple jump.
The Mizzou track and field program has cultivated elite athletes, and Seremes is the latest proof. His journey of struggles to now being an NCAA national champion underscores the program's strength in providing structure, resources and a clear plan for success.
Born in Paris, France, Seremes started the triple jump in 2015. In 2018, he won bronze at the U20 World Championships but then faced major setbacks. After years of struggle and training on his own, he came to Mizzou for a fresh start. He believed the U.S. offered the best environment, especially for maximizing his talents to reach world-level performances.
Through his career as a Tiger, Seremes broke the school record in the triple jump three different times. He finished first in all four meets in which he competed, also winning the event at the 2025 SEC Indoor Championship. But now it was time for the big dream, the big goal, to make all the work worth it.
"That's something that I always dreamed of, because coming from France, we just see the NCAA as the greatest thing ever. So, I never thought I would be here," Seremes said.
In the opening jumps of the competition, Seremes felt off. His first jump was 16.40 meters – unknowingly to him, a facility record. Still, he thought it was a bad jump. Struggling to find his marks, his first three attempts did not go as planned. Then, Oklahoma's Brandon Green Jr. responded with a 16.50-meter jump, surpassing Seremes' mark.
Between rounds, while talking to jumps coach Iliyan Chamov, his message to Seremes was clear - "Now you gotta wake up."
Seremes was no stranger to adversity. In 2021, he underwent double knee surgery, marking the start of a five-year rehab and training battle before arriving at Mizzou.
That same determination carried into competition —he wasn't done until the final jump.
"I love to fight, the fight of competing, and I have six jumps left, so it's not done. I'm in first, but I have three more jumps. And until the sixth one, I can still have faith," Seremes said, "I told myself, 'You can jump further. I will jump further.'"
On his fifth jump, Seremes posted 16.94 meters. In his heart, he felt it's already over. "So, I thought," Seremes said, "'Let's go for it. Let's achieve both goals I came here to accomplish.'"
He knew he had more in him.
On his last jump, when he landed, it was a sensation he never felt before. The distance was being debated - a malfunction in the results system. The energy from the crowd was intense and felt throughout the Virginia Beach Sports Complex.
Result posted. 17.04 meters. The moment came, and Seremes was overwhelmed with gratitude for his coach and his plan.
"Finally, because I've been struggling for five years," he said. "Yeah, it was a long, long run for me."His victory wasn't just personal—it was a milestone for Mizzou track and field.
"It stays in the history of your career, the history of the university," Chamov said.
For Seremes, this victory was more than just a title—it was the culmination of years of perseverance.
"It was quite emotional because I've been through things with my surgeries just the last few years," he said. "I couldn't jump for real. I needed help to figure out how to jump again."
His final jump marked the first national champion for Mizzou track and field under Chamov. Their tight bond played a crucial role in Seremes success.
"My biggest satisfaction is like when the athletes are extremely happy for what they do," Chamov said, "I definitely can see why his reaction was the way it was, because he had a very long journey the last couple years, a very difficult path to walk."
Everything was structured. Followed step-by-step. Mizzou's program instills discipline, resilience and execution.
"We say we'll do it, and we do it," Seremes said. "We had to plan. Do that, that, that, that, I followed it every single step. I knew I just had to take them because it was hard. It was hard and I couldn't have gotten through each step without Coach Chamov."
Seremes is the school record holder for triple jump with his 17.04-meter mark. He feels the little things Chamov told the team to do put more chance in his favor.
"We genuinely want to win. Like, of course, every team wants to win. But like I said, we have a plan," Seremes said. "There's nothing that we do that we don't plan. Everything is planned, so at one point, if things are in doubt, you fall back on following the plan. Follow the plan."
Seremes' overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the coaches and ability to fight through years of long adversity was the first thing on his mind. Next, was a phone call to his family back in France, who stayed up to watch the whole thing. After celebrating with his family, a new realization set in—his journey was far from over.
"When I got on the podium and they called my name, handed me the trophy, the next thing that came to my mind was, 'OK, what's next? I jumped 17 meters. That's great. But, what's next?'" he said. "I don't take those accomplishments for granted. I'm still learning, and I still have room to grow."
Looking ahead, Seremes plans to attend the Tokyo World Championships in the fall.
"See you there," he said, "when I qualify for the World Championships."
