imagine walking into a stadium filled with a hundred thousand people and
with a hundred thousand people and
with a hundred thousand people and millions more are watching on TV here
millions more are watching on TV here
millions more are watching on TV here cheers and screams coming from every
cheers and screams coming from every
cheers and screams coming from every direction and flags from hundreds of
direction and flags from hundreds of
direction and flags from hundreds of countries we’re flying in the air the
countries we’re flying in the air the
countries we’re flying in the air the excitement and the energy all around is
excitement and the energy all around is
excitement and the energy all around is so real you can literally feel it this
so real you can literally feel it this
so real you can literally feel it this was the opening ceremony of the 2012
was the opening ceremony of the 2012
was the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games and I was the best
London Olympic Games and I was the best
London Olympic Games and I was the best u.s. track and field athlete in the
u.s. track and field athlete in the
u.s. track and field athlete in the triple jump I had been working my entire
triple jump I had been working my entire
triple jump I had been working my entire life to get to this moment being part of
life to get to this moment being part of
life to get to this moment being part of something so much bigger than myself it
something so much bigger than myself it
something so much bigger than myself it gave me chills we all have that thing in
gave me chills we all have that thing in
gave me chills we all have that thing in life that we’re working towards and want
life that we’re working towards and want
life that we’re working towards and want to become the best that it could be to
to become the best that it could be to
to become the best that it could be to be the best mom or the best entrepreneur
be the best mom or the best entrepreneur
be the best mom or the best entrepreneur each and our corner of the world it’s
each and our corner of the world it’s
each and our corner of the world it’s something we can all relate to wanting
something we can all relate to wanting
something we can all relate to wanting to be the best at some thing
to be the best at some thing
to be the best at some thing my hope is that hearing my story of
my hope is that hearing my story of
my hope is that hearing my story of working towards my dream while believing
working towards my dream while believing
working towards my dream while believing the best is yet to come
the best is yet to come
the best is yet to come can inspire you to believe the same the
can inspire you to believe the same the
can inspire you to believe the same the day after I learned to walk my parents
day after I learned to walk my parents
day after I learned to walk my parents were flipping me through cartwheels and
were flipping me through cartwheels and
were flipping me through cartwheels and encouraging me they saw that I wanted to
encouraging me they saw that I wanted to
encouraging me they saw that I wanted to be the best they saw a spark of passion
be the best they saw a spark of passion
be the best they saw a spark of passion and they said it one summer day in the
and they said it one summer day in the
and they said it one summer day in the early morning hours they picked me up
early morning hours they picked me up
early morning hours they picked me up out of bed and loaded me in the car when
out of bed and loaded me in the car when
out of bed and loaded me in the car when I cracked open my eyes stepped out of
I cracked open my eyes stepped out of
I cracked open my eyes stepped out of the car I saw they had brought me to a
the car I saw they had brought me to a
the car I saw they had brought me to a Junior Olympic track meet I was tired
Junior Olympic track meet I was tired
Junior Olympic track meet I was tired and I was stiff from the drive initially
and I was stiff from the drive initially
and I was stiff from the drive initially I wasn’t very happy to be there and
I wasn’t very happy to be there and
I wasn’t very happy to be there and thankfully I was too young and too
thankfully I was too young and too
thankfully I was too young and too stupid to know the importance of warming
stupid to know the importance of warming
stupid to know the importance of warming up well so I stepped right onto the
up well so I stepped right onto the
up well so I stepped right onto the track I shook off my bad attitude I
track I shook off my bad attitude I
track I shook off my bad attitude I competed and I did really well my
competed and I did really well my
competed and I did really well my parents pushed me the most Sunday’s like
parents pushed me the most Sunday’s like
parents pushed me the most Sunday’s like these that they didn’t want to be pushed
these that they didn’t want to be pushed
these that they didn’t want to be pushed they knew I wanted to be great and they
they knew I wanted to be great and they
they knew I wanted to be great and they taught me if I worked hard the idea that
taught me if I worked hard the idea that
taught me if I worked hard the idea that the best is yet to come would become
the best is yet to come would become
the best is yet to come would become true
true
true my effort paid off and a scholarship to
my effort paid off and a scholarship to
my effort paid off and a scholarship to North Dakota State University where my
North Dakota State University where my
North Dakota State University where my focus was trapping field I didn’t do
focus was trapping field I didn’t do
focus was trapping field I didn’t do college like a normal kid does I skipped
college like a normal kid does I skipped
college like a normal kid does I skipped the parties I think I went tailgating
the parties I think I went tailgating
the parties I think I went tailgating once even academic sometimes took a back
once even academic sometimes took a back
once even academic sometimes took a back seat to my main focus of track and field
seat to my main focus of track and field
seat to my main focus of track and field I want it to be the best my final year
I want it to be the best my final year
I want it to be the best my final year of college
of college
of college I qualified for my first US Olympic
I qualified for my first US Olympic
I qualified for my first US Olympic Trials competing with the top
Trials competing with the top
Trials competing with the top professional athletes in the entire US
professional athletes in the entire US
professional athletes in the entire US was thrilling I was starstruck
was thrilling I was starstruck
was thrilling I was starstruck I remember my stomach being in a ball of
I remember my stomach being in a ball of
I remember my stomach being in a ball of nerves thinking I was gonna step onto
nerves thinking I was gonna step onto
nerves thinking I was gonna step onto the track at the wrong time being
the track at the wrong time being
the track at the wrong time being someone else’s way and get yelled at by
someone else’s way and get yelled at by
someone else’s way and get yelled at by someone who was important but through
someone who was important but through
someone who was important but through the nerves I mustered out some jumps and
the nerves I mustered out some jumps and
the nerves I mustered out some jumps and they were subpar but I was really proud
they were subpar but I was really proud
they were subpar but I was really proud that I had earned a spot to compete in
that I had earned a spot to compete in
that I had earned a spot to compete in those Olympic Trials I saw that I could
those Olympic Trials I saw that I could
those Olympic Trials I saw that I could compete with the best athletes in the US
compete with the best athletes in the US
compete with the best athletes in the US but if I ever had hopes of becoming an
but if I ever had hopes of becoming an
but if I ever had hopes of becoming an Olympian
Olympian
Olympian I needed to be better I thought wait
I needed to be better I thought wait
I needed to be better I thought wait could I become an Olympian
could I become an Olympian
could I become an Olympian after college I continued to work
after college I continued to work
after college I continued to work towards this new idea of becoming an
towards this new idea of becoming an
towards this new idea of becoming an Olympian and while I did there were so
Olympian and while I did there were so
Olympian and while I did there were so many days that I had urged to get
many days that I had urged to get
many days that I had urged to get sidetracked go out with friends stay out
sidetracked go out with friends stay out
sidetracked go out with friends stay out late eat some junk food have some beer
late eat some junk food have some beer
late eat some junk food have some beer but I didn’t we all make sacrifices in
but I didn’t we all make sacrifices in
but I didn’t we all make sacrifices in life for things that we prioritize I
life for things that we prioritize I
life for things that we prioritize I stuck to a diet where the drink of
stuck to a diet where the drink of
stuck to a diet where the drink of choice was a high protein shake every
choice was a high protein shake every
choice was a high protein shake every single day instead of soda or beer and
single day instead of soda or beer and
single day instead of soda or beer and that was my daily treat to being able to
that was my daily treat to being able to
that was my daily treat to being able to have some baked chocolate how lame is
have some baked chocolate how lame is
have some baked chocolate how lame is that I stuck to the diet and it was
that I stuck to the diet and it was
that I stuck to the diet and it was stripped and it was monotonous and it
stripped and it was monotonous and it
stripped and it was monotonous and it was painfully healthy and it was worth
was painfully healthy and it was worth
was painfully healthy and it was worth it I get asked all the time how I could
it I get asked all the time how I could
it I get asked all the time how I could have the willpower to stick to the
have the willpower to stick to the
have the willpower to stick to the lifestyle I was living keeping a 9:30
lifestyle I was living keeping a 9:30
lifestyle I was living keeping a 9:30 p.m. bedtime like any mom would do an
p.m. bedtime like any mom would do an
p.m. bedtime like any mom would do an anticipation of being up all hours of
anticipation of being up all hours of
anticipation of being up all hours of the night with kids well I did it to
the night with kids well I did it to
the night with kids well I did it to ensure I would have nine full hours of
ensure I would have nine full hours of
ensure I would have nine full hours of rest I was the person who wouldn’t
rest I was the person who wouldn’t
rest I was the person who wouldn’t ever miss a training day even on
ever miss a training day even on
ever miss a training day even on vacation and this often meant that I had
vacation and this often meant that I had
vacation and this often meant that I had to be the crazy lady doing sprints on
to be the crazy lady doing sprints on
to be the crazy lady doing sprints on the beach or push-ups next to the pool
the beach or push-ups next to the pool
the beach or push-ups next to the pool and you should have seen the awesome
and you should have seen the awesome
and you should have seen the awesome stares that I got by other people on
stares that I got by other people on
stares that I got by other people on vacation this was my normal to everyone
vacation this was my normal to everyone
vacation this was my normal to everyone looking in it looked difficult
looking in it looked difficult
looking in it looked difficult I saw a commitment to wanting to become
I saw a commitment to wanting to become
I saw a commitment to wanting to become better I wanted to be an Olympian
better I wanted to be an Olympian
better I wanted to be an Olympian I worked hard training sessions that
I worked hard training sessions that
I worked hard training sessions that lasted four hours a day muscles so sore
lasted four hours a day muscles so sore
lasted four hours a day muscles so sore I would feel like I was on fire and then
I would feel like I was on fire and then
I would feel like I was on fire and then there was that sand from the jumping
there was that sand from the jumping
there was that sand from the jumping pitch imagine that in every body crevice
pitch imagine that in every body crevice
pitch imagine that in every body crevice imaginable so there’s that yes it was
imaginable so there’s that yes it was
imaginable so there’s that yes it was all worth it in 2008 I qualified for my
all worth it in 2008 I qualified for my
all worth it in 2008 I qualified for my second Olympic Trials and now I’m no
second Olympic Trials and now I’m no
second Olympic Trials and now I’m no longer afraid I was going to be in
longer afraid I was going to be in
longer afraid I was going to be in someone else’s way I was on a mission
someone else’s way I was on a mission
someone else’s way I was on a mission top three make the Olympic team going
top three make the Olympic team going
top three make the Olympic team going into my final attempt I was tied for a
into my final attempt I was tied for a
into my final attempt I was tied for a fourth place I looked down the runway I
fourth place I looked down the runway I
fourth place I looked down the runway I jumped landed in the sand got out of the
jumped landed in the sand got out of the
jumped landed in the sand got out of the pit in my eyes glued to the board that
pit in my eyes glued to the board that
pit in my eyes glued to the board that flashes the results I waited a lifetime
flashes the results I waited a lifetime
flashes the results I waited a lifetime for that result to pop up and it flashed
for that result to pop up and it flashed
for that result to pop up and it flashed and it wasn’t enough one stinking place
and it wasn’t enough one stinking place
and it wasn’t enough one stinking place away from making the team missing out
away from making the team missing out
away from making the team missing out that year left me gutted I needed time
that year left me gutted I needed time
that year left me gutted I needed time to reflect
to reflect
to reflect so I skip to our family cabin and that
so I skip to our family cabin and that
so I skip to our family cabin and that night sitting around the bonfire my dad
night sitting around the bonfire my dad
night sitting around the bonfire my dad from his lawn chair reached over and
from his lawn chair reached over and
from his lawn chair reached over and passed me his Olympic Trials credential
passed me his Olympic Trials credential
passed me his Olympic Trials credential in the place where 2008 was written he
in the place where 2008 was written he
in the place where 2008 was written he wiped it away and wrote 2012 since that
wiped it away and wrote 2012 since that
wiped it away and wrote 2012 since that first cartwheel he never stopped
first cartwheel he never stopped
first cartwheel he never stopped believing in me even when I didn’t
believing in me even when I didn’t
believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself he knew I could do it
believe in myself he knew I could do it
believe in myself he knew I could do it he knew I could become better and if I
he knew I could become better and if I
he knew I could become better and if I committed myself to the 2012 Olympic
committed myself to the 2012 Olympic
committed myself to the 2012 Olympic Trials something great what happened I
Trials something great what happened I
Trials something great what happened I went home considering the idea honestly
went home considering the idea honestly
went home considering the idea honestly overwhelmed at that thought I hung the
overwhelmed at that thought I hung the
overwhelmed at that thought I hung the credential in my closet and I shut the
credential in my closet and I shut the
credential in my closet and I shut the door and after a week I was itching to
door and after a week I was itching to
door and after a week I was itching to start training again the Olympic spark
start training again the Olympic spark
start training again the Olympic spark wouldn’t go away I need to see if the
wouldn’t go away I need to see if the
wouldn’t go away I need to see if the best is yet to come I continue to train
best is yet to come I continue to train
best is yet to come I continue to train while some big events outside of track
while some big events outside of track
while some big events outside of track and field happened
and field happened
and field happened I’m married the love of my life Gregg
I’m married the love of my life Gregg
I’m married the love of my life Gregg who conveniently doubled as a living
who conveniently doubled as a living
who conveniently doubled as a living training partner and massage therapist
training partner and massage therapist
training partner and massage therapist so that was nice
so that was nice
so that was nice and keeping was tradition at our wedding
and keeping was tradition at our wedding
and keeping was tradition at our wedding my dad walked me down the aisle and he
my dad walked me down the aisle and he
my dad walked me down the aisle and he had previously been diagnosed with
had previously been diagnosed with
had previously been diagnosed with cancer and four months later it took his
cancer and four months later it took his
cancer and four months later it took his life these are the most painful memories
life these are the most painful memories
life these are the most painful memories I remember sitting at home with him on
I remember sitting at home with him on
I remember sitting at home with him on our living room couch I held his hand
our living room couch I held his hand
our living room couch I held his hand and I clung to the sound of every breath
and I clung to the sound of every breath
and I clung to the sound of every breath that I heard him take because I knew his
that I heard him take because I knew his
that I heard him take because I knew his time on this earth was quickly coming to
time on this earth was quickly coming to
time on this earth was quickly coming to an end
an end
an end through this experience I turned to my
through this experience I turned to my
through this experience I turned to my faith and I’m a believer in the
faith and I’m a believer in the
faith and I’m a believer in the afterlife in the biggest way possible
afterlife in the biggest way possible
afterlife in the biggest way possible once again I saw the best is yet to come
once again I saw the best is yet to come
once again I saw the best is yet to come it became important to me to see my
it became important to me to see my
it became important to me to see my dad’s dreams and my dreams come true I
dad’s dreams and my dreams come true I
dad’s dreams and my dreams come true I needed to see his 2012 credential get
needed to see his 2012 credential get
needed to see his 2012 credential get used so back on the track I qualified
used so back on the track I qualified
used so back on the track I qualified for my third US Olympic Trials in 2012
for my third US Olympic Trials in 2012
for my third US Olympic Trials in 2012 my time had come you know that feeling
my time had come you know that feeling
my time had come you know that feeling when everything just goes right and
when everything just goes right and
when everything just goes right and falls into place this was one of those
falls into place this was one of those
falls into place this was one of those days there are six rounds of jumps I
days there are six rounds of jumps I
days there are six rounds of jumps I took the lead in the second round of the
took the lead in the second round of the
took the lead in the second round of the competition I held it all the way
competition I held it all the way
competition I held it all the way through the end landing in the sand I
through the end landing in the sand I
through the end landing in the sand I became an Olympian I was so proud and I
became an Olympian I was so proud and I
became an Olympian I was so proud and I wish you could have seen how I puffed my
wish you could have seen how I puffed my
wish you could have seen how I puffed my chest out with pride when I put on my
chest out with pride when I put on my
chest out with pride when I put on my dad’s credential I loved every second of
dad’s credential I loved every second of
dad’s credential I loved every second of the London Olympic Games but there was
the London Olympic Games but there was
the London Olympic Games but there was this one thing festering in my mind I
this one thing festering in my mind I
this one thing festering in my mind I didn’t have a lifetime best performance
didn’t have a lifetime best performance
didn’t have a lifetime best performance that day I wondered if I could be better
that day I wondered if I could be better
that day I wondered if I could be better what if the best was still yet to come
what if the best was still yet to come
what if the best was still yet to come I wanted more I thought I could become
I wanted more I thought I could become
I wanted more I thought I could become the first female American triple jumper
the first female American triple jumper
the first female American triple jumper to qualify for two Olympic Games I
to qualify for two Olympic Games I
to qualify for two Olympic Games I dedicated another four years to daily
dedicated another four years to daily
dedicated another four years to daily training strict diets
training strict diets
training strict diets time’s sand everywhere spending months
time’s sand everywhere spending months
time’s sand everywhere spending months away from home to train at the Olympic
away from home to train at the Olympic
away from home to train at the Olympic Training Center and even putting off
Training Center and even putting off
Training Center and even putting off starting a family greg has always been
starting a family greg has always been
starting a family greg has always been supportive of me but I feel really
supportive of me but I feel really
supportive of me but I feel really guilty about this even now but I
guilty about this even now but I
guilty about this even now but I continue to believe I couldn’t become
continue to believe I couldn’t become
continue to believe I couldn’t become better between 2012 and 2016 I progress
better between 2012 and 2016 I progress
better between 2012 and 2016 I progress I was feeling really good about hitting
I was feeling really good about hitting
I was feeling really good about hitting my goal was feeling it lasted up until
my goal was feeling it lasted up until
my goal was feeling it lasted up until seven weeks before my final Olympic
seven weeks before my final Olympic
seven weeks before my final Olympic Trials during an intense training
Trials during an intense training
Trials during an intense training session I felt a pop in my leg landing
session I felt a pop in my leg landing
session I felt a pop in my leg landing in the sand I knew I tore my hamstring
in the sand I knew I tore my hamstring
in the sand I knew I tore my hamstring the pain in my spirit was so real it
the pain in my spirit was so real it
the pain in my spirit was so real it felt like a knife straight into my heart
felt like a knife straight into my heart
felt like a knife straight into my heart it was like a nightmare there was no way
it was like a nightmare there was no way
it was like a nightmare there was no way I could prepare for these Olympic Trials
I could prepare for these Olympic Trials
I could prepare for these Olympic Trials with a torn hamstring I was devastated I
with a torn hamstring I was devastated I
with a torn hamstring I was devastated I spent that evening in tears all I could
spent that evening in tears all I could
spent that evening in tears all I could think about was these Olympic Trials
think about was these Olympic Trials
think about was these Olympic Trials being the culmination of my entire
being the culmination of my entire
being the culmination of my entire athletic career and now suddenly none of
athletic career and now suddenly none of
athletic career and now suddenly none of the sacrifices seemed worth it
the sacrifices seemed worth it
the sacrifices seemed worth it everything I had been working for was
everything I had been working for was
everything I had been working for was wasted the following weeks I was forced
wasted the following weeks I was forced
wasted the following weeks I was forced to rest and as many of us do when life
to rest and as many of us do when life
to rest and as many of us do when life happens as I did with the death of my
happens as I did with the death of my
happens as I did with the death of my dad I turned to my faith I spent a lot
dad I turned to my faith I spent a lot
dad I turned to my faith I spent a lot of time in prayer and I began to see I
of time in prayer and I began to see I
of time in prayer and I began to see I had to surrender my Olympic goal I had
had to surrender my Olympic goal I had
had to surrender my Olympic goal I had to trust in a bigger plan it was the
to trust in a bigger plan it was the
to trust in a bigger plan it was the only way to move forward so I made a new
only way to move forward so I made a new
only way to move forward so I made a new goal it was to be present and enjoy this
goal it was to be present and enjoy this
goal it was to be present and enjoy this journey even with a torn hamstring I
journey even with a torn hamstring I
journey even with a torn hamstring I decided it was still possible the best
decided it was still possible the best
decided it was still possible the best was yet to come
I celebrated every step of the healing
I celebrated every step of the healing hamstring and discovered I might have
hamstring and discovered I might have
hamstring and discovered I might have the world’s slowest healing hamstrings
the world’s slowest healing hamstrings
the world’s slowest healing hamstrings they tested my patience but finally two
they tested my patience but finally two
they tested my patience but finally two weeks before the Olympic Trials I put on
weeks before the Olympic Trials I put on
weeks before the Olympic Trials I put on my spikes and I sprinted without any
my spikes and I sprinted without any
my spikes and I sprinted without any pain I can’t even tell you how excited I
pain I can’t even tell you how excited I
pain I can’t even tell you how excited I was about this it was a breath of new
was about this it was a breath of new
was about this it was a breath of new life it meant I could compete at the
life it meant I could compete at the
life it meant I could compete at the Olympic Trials it’s a non competition
Olympic Trials it’s a non competition
Olympic Trials it’s a non competition day not only did I compete but I did it
day not only did I compete but I did it
day not only did I compete but I did it with a hugely grateful heart there are
with a hugely grateful heart there are
with a hugely grateful heart there are two days of competition at the trials
two days of competition at the trials
two days of competition at the trials I jumped well on the first day and I
I jumped well on the first day and I
I jumped well on the first day and I earned a spot to compete on day two and
earned a spot to compete on day two and
earned a spot to compete on day two and on that second day I jumped my heart out
on that second day I jumped my heart out
on that second day I jumped my heart out I fought to jump well but it wasn’t
I fought to jump well but it wasn’t
I fought to jump well but it wasn’t enough there were my sandy shoes for the
enough there were my sandy shoes for the
enough there were my sandy shoes for the last time that day and still I left the
last time that day and still I left the
last time that day and still I left the runway with more joy than should have
runway with more joy than should have
runway with more joy than should have been possible after failing miserably at
been possible after failing miserably at
been possible after failing miserably at my original goal believing the best was
my original goal believing the best was
my original goal believing the best was yet to come put my mind and my heart in
yet to come put my mind and my heart in
yet to come put my mind and my heart in a really good spot
a really good spot
a really good spot that night I celebrated with friends and
that night I celebrated with friends and
that night I celebrated with friends and family we enjoy some beer and greasy and
family we enjoy some beer and greasy and
family we enjoy some beer and greasy and fatty and delicious nachos as far as I
fatty and delicious nachos as far as I
fatty and delicious nachos as far as I was concerned this experience was the
was concerned this experience was the
was concerned this experience was the best I believed the best was yet to come
best I believed the best was yet to come
best I believed the best was yet to come and it did this is my corner of the
and it did this is my corner of the
and it did this is my corner of the world and each of us has something
world and each of us has something
world and each of us has something different that we’re working towards
different that we’re working towards
different that we’re working towards yeah we all have the same story pushing
yeah we all have the same story pushing
yeah we all have the same story pushing ourselves to become better than before
ourselves to become better than before
ourselves to become better than before and we should do it holding on to the
and we should do it holding on to the
and we should do it holding on to the idea that the best is yet to come
idea that the best is yet to come
idea that the best is yet to come whatever you’re working towards optimism
whatever you’re working towards optimism
whatever you’re working towards optimism is the way to get there I’ve learned
is the way to get there I’ve learned
is the way to get there I’ve learned this over and over again in the
this over and over again in the
this over and over again in the experiences that I’ve had in athletics
experiences that I’ve had in athletics
experiences that I’ve had in athletics and now I’m leaving the Olympic chapter
and now I’m leaving the Olympic chapter
and now I’m leaving the Olympic chapter behind I found a new career that I love
behind I found a new career that I love
behind I found a new career that I love and I can’t wait to be a mom if that’s
and I can’t wait to be a mom if that’s
and I can’t wait to be a mom if that’s what’s in store for Greg and me whatever
what’s in store for Greg and me whatever
what’s in store for Greg and me whatever it is for all of us I know the best is
it is for all of us I know the best is
it is for all of us I know the best is yet to come
”
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