Dakotah Lindwurm is going to the Olympics against all the odds! The 28-year-old American struggled to fit in as a cross-country track and field athlete. Trying her luck, Lindwurm had a shot at goaltending as well. However, slowly, her luck began to shine as Lindwurm kept getting better. Going into the Olympic Team Trials, no one expected Lindwurm to win. 

However, one person did believe. And it was Dakotah Lindwurm herself! Her iron-clad mental strength, coupled with her skillful display of distance running, made her live the Olympic dreams. The athlete will now be heading to Paris to take a shot at the coveted Olympic gold. She recently recounted her bittersweet sojourn as she laid bare her struggles and bounties.

Dakotah Lindwurm qualifies for the Olympics in emphatic fashion

A dream came true this weekend for Lindwurm in Orlando. The 28-year-old clocked a 2:25:31 finish, clinching the third position, finished the trials in Orlando. However, her zeal for success began surprisingly with a failure. Recollecting her struggles, Lindwurm narrated an incident when she failed to qualify for the state meet during her high school years. 

However, it was this failure that ignited a spark within. As Lindwurm stated, “I’m someone who really hates being bad at things.” It was this mentality that fueled her dreams and made her practice hard and relentlessly. Coming into the trials as an underdog, Lindwurm kept going on. She stated, “Once it kind of opened up towards the end where people started running faster, I was just kind of hanging on for dear life to take third.” Speaking about her feelings soon after the victory, Lindwurm said that she felt heavily emotional. 

She elaborated further, saying that a sense of relief and elation hit her. Lindwurm further said that the sense of fulfillment after all the hard work was magical. However, the path to success was not at all easy for Lindwurm.

Dakotah Lindwurm’s struggles building up to the Olympics pays off

After finishing college, Lindwurm joined the Minnesota Distance Elite. She also participated in the Division II Northern State where she had the honor of being an All-American. However, despite the success, Lindwurm was unsure about pursuing the discipline as a professional. A pivotal moment arrived when Lindwurm lost her mother and then went on to clinch the 2021 Grandma’s Marathon. 

Read More: US Olympic Marathon Trials: The “Never Give Up” Journey of Dakotah Lindwurm Unwrapped

It was this incident that made her feel that Lindwurm must keep going to fulfill her mother’s dreams. Going into the Olympics, Lindwurm hopes to enjoy all the glitz and glamor. Sharing her motto for the games, Lindwurm stated, “I guess I’ve learned that I can be the hardest worker on the starting line… I don’t have to be the fastest or the most talented, that I can just be the hardest worker and that will pay off.” Surely, the path ahead does look to be rosy for Dakotah Lindwurm. 

Continue to Read: “Almost Break Down” – Paris-Bound Dakotah Lindwurm Reflects on Daily Life After Earning Her Spot in the Summer Olympics