At the 2016 Rio Olympics, a young American track athlete openly shared her experience during her semifinal race, revealing a surprising lack of drive to win. During the race’s final stretch, she chose to ease off, finishing in fifth place and failing to advance to the finals—a choice she later admitted regretting. Having qualified for the Olympics at only 16 years old, she became the youngest American track athlete to reach the Summer Games since 1980, securing her place with a 54.15-second finish in the 400m hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
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In Rio, the young athlete finished fifth in her qualifying heat with a time of 56.32 seconds, which allowed her to advance to the semifinals. However, as the semifinals approached, she found herself feeling a dread toward the next race. When she stepped onto the track, she realized she lacked the desire to push for victory.
Reflecting on the experience in her 2024 memoir, she described how halfway through the race, she was positioned to potentially make the final. But within the next 100 meters, she lost her drive, saying that her usual instincts had suddenly left her. As she approached the final turn, she intentionally slowed down, deciding not to push herself toward the finish line. The athlete later expressed disappointment in herself, noting that her choice had stemmed from a desire to shield herself from the high expectations surrounding her performance.
Back at her accommodation in the Olympic Village, she began to feel guilty, wondering why she—a naturally competitive person—would intentionally hold back. She questioned her motives, reflecting on why she had allowed fear to control her actions, rather than rising to meet the expectations of the media, fans, and those around her.
That summer of 2016, she came to understand just how much influence fear held over her life. From her impressive showing at the Olympic Trials in Eugene to her races in Rio, fear continued to dominate her experience on the track. Even after the Olympics, this fear remained, affecting various aspects of her life.
However, she did eventually conquer these fears. In the following years, she overcame this mental hurdle, and by the time she competed in the Tokyo Olympics, she not only won two gold medals but also set a world record in the 400m hurdles.