University of Arkansas high jumper Rachel Glenn qualified for the Olympics and will represent Team USA in Paris. However, she could not be less excited to see things like the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe.
Her interest lies elsewhere.
Glenn, a First Team and All-SEC athlete, transferred from South Carolina to Arkansas in 2023 as an outdoor champion. She won the NCAA Indoor Championships in March with a personal best, championship record and collegiate best of 6 feet, 6 inches. The resume speaks for itself!
However, Glenn choked at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships and finished in 13th place. It was the most disappointing performance of her collegiate career. There were a lot of concerns about her performance, which took place about one month before the U.S. Olympic Trials.
It wasn’t an issue.
Glenn cleared 6 feet, 4 1/4 inches to finish second in the women’s high jump. The top-three finishers secured their spot on Team USA!
Although Glenn competes in the Southeastern Conference, her roots are in California. She hails from Long beach and attended Woodrow Wilson High School, which actually put 40 — now 41! — athletes in the Olympics. It is the most of any high school in America.
As someone who is very proud of her upbringing, Glenn has a different outlook on the trip to France.
People are typically excited to see things like the Lourve museum or Notre Dame cathedral during their first visit to the City of Light. Not Glenn!
She is most looking forward to a tour of the ghetto.
As strange as it might sound, Glenn was/is dead serious about her plans for the Olympics. All of the tourist traps are not of interest. Nor are some of the most iconic buildings in the world.
Rachel Glenn would rather visit the ghetto of Paris so she can compare it to home!