Karissa Schweizer will represent Team USA in Paris at the Olympics next month. The 28-year-old track and field athlete is in peak form after battling back from two discouraging leg injuries and hopes to bring home a medal for her country in one, if not two events.
She is in great position to do so!
Schweizer, a University of Missouri alum, is one of the most-decorated distance runners in collegiate history. Her specialties are the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter. However, she finished 11th and 12th in those two events in Tokyo. Even though the results were not what she had hoped, no American woman has ever won the 5,000 or finished in the top five at the Olympics so it was (and is) a tall ask.
As soon as Schweizer returned home, a nagging injury forced her to undergo surgery on her Achilles. A calf injury then forced her to withdraw from the 2022 World Athletic Championships before another surgery.
Just to be on the track in Eugene last month was a great accomplishment. To finish first in the 5,000 and a close third in the 10,000 was truly emotional.
Schweizer guaranteed her spot on Team USA with a win in the 5K. It is likely that she will also qualify for the 10K, but will have to wait and see how things shake out with the world rankings.
The finish to the 10,000 was incredible!
Justin Volley was in Eugene to capture the Trials. He is a remarkably talented photographer who works for Ohio State as the Creative Content Lead for Track & Field.
His photo of the finish between Schweizer, Parker Valby and Weini Kelati puts the athletes’ hard work in perspective. You can see the passion and strain on their faces. They gave it everything they had.
You can also see every single muscle in Schweizer’s left leg!
Her quads don’t even look real. She’s absolutely shredded.
Karissa Schweizer is one of the best personalities on Team USA. It is impossible to root against her. Keep an eye out for those quad muscles in Paris next month!