Picture this: the engines screaming, the tension rising, and one of the greatest drivers of this era standing just a few feet away. In that electric haze, you come face-to-face with Max Verstappen – the man reshaping Formula 1 in real time. And this happens not after a race, but minutes before he steps into his cockpit. That’s the surreal encounter American pole vaulter and high jumper Sam Hurley experienced.

Hurley recently recounted this remarkable encounter in an EssentiallySports exclusive with Andrew Whitelaw, and his reaction was exactly what you’d expect from someone meeting a living F1 legend. Flashing a grin, he called Verstappen “another one of the GOATS.” And when Whitelaw asked what Verstappen was like, Hurley eagerly described his interaction with the Red Bull superstar.

The Arkansas native said that Max Verstappen was “So cool.” He continued, “I met him before the sprint race. Actually, before the qualifying race at F1 last year, and probably five or six minutes before the race. He was in the garage and actually maybe about 10 minutes, about 10 minutes before the race. We’re all in the garage, and the Red Bull team brought him over, and they’re like, ‘Hey Sam, let’s take a picture of you with Max. Max’s new athlete, so cool, blah blah blah…’”

Meeting Verstappen and shaking his hand became a moment Hurley will never forget. “It was so cool,” he repeated. What truly impressed him was the timing. Hurley explained, “I thought it was really cool because he was about to race, and he completely took the time and was intentional with me, looked me in the eye, talked to me, right before the race, which was super cool. I didn’t expect him to do that. Didn’t even want him to do that. And it was really cool of him to do that right before such a big moment.”

Speaking of big moments, Whitelaw wondered about Hurley’s own. With 1.1 million followers on Instagram and about 3.4 million on TikTok, many might assume his biggest milestone comes from social media fame. But get ready for a curveball.

Sam Hurley reveals big moments in his career – it’s not social media

Hurley may be a digital powerhouse – known for viral clips, sharp storytelling, and a loyal fanbase – but when it comes to defining his career, his heart belongs to track and field. He said, “I would honestly say the biggest has been transferring. It was a big deal to transfer.” The 22-year-old announced his move from the University of Texas at Austin to Texas Tech University in August 2025, shortly after entering the NCAA transfer portal that June. His decision came down to complete confidence in the new program and the community waiting for him at Texas Tech.

Hurley has built an impressive NCAA résumé in both the high jump and pole vault. A 2023 USTFCCCA Outdoor Second Team All-American, he climbed Texas’ all-time lists—reaching No. 2 in pole vault with a 5.52m jump and No. 6 in indoor high jump with 2.21m. He has collected several accolades, suggesting a future champion in the making. Qualifying for the NCAA Championships marked a major step forward, but it was last year’s Big 12 meet that meant the most.

Hurley continued, “And I would say another one was Big 12s. Texas last year at Big 12s. That was one of my highlight meets… Yeah. It was a good meet. It was a fun meet.” His story intertwines elite athletic development with standout moments—from meeting Verstappen to thriving after his transfer. As he rises both on the track and online, his next breakthrough feels inevitable. What do you think of Hurley’s meeting with Verstappen? Share your thoughts in the comments below.