The past year has been nothing short of phenomenal for the track and field stars. Legends like Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson have made such huge headlines that their World Championships’ cheers still resonate for all and sundry. But there are several Olympic athletes who failed to make a mark this year, on account of their unwarranted injuries. In the same vein, one such athlete’s story surfaced recently and what seemed to be her Achilles heel in 2021 is her pièce de résistance to compete in 2024.

Colleen Quigley, the middle-distance runner, hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, has made several winning strides in her illustrious career. She’s the current 4×1500 meters relay World Record holder, which is undoubtedly her most noteworthy career feat. But before she could root for a trophy at the 2020 Olympics, some injuries struck her out. She’s made a resurgence, more robust than ever, and her upcoming comeuppance on the horizon looks solid.

Quigley harbors aspirations to compete again

Colleen Quigley has had a successful 2023 beginning. Outclassing rivals, the 31-year-old ran her first triathlon, only to finish with a gold around her neck. The Tritonman draft-legal development race in San Diego was her only notable achievement in 2023. But it isn’t difficult to assume that she has already set her sights strong. As 2024 engulfs us, Team USA gathered some athletes. Among them, Quigley’s words sounded fierce when she said, “I competed in 2016 and then had to sit out in 2021 due to injury. So I definitely want to get back on that team USA in the next Olympic cycle.”

When she faced a stumble in 2021, keeping her foot in check was sacrosanct. Getting back on track was hellish, so she opted for an MRI of the foot, only to find out there was some plantar fasciitis and a calcaneus bone damage. Over the years, she had only prioritized healthy running and could see brighter days after taking up aqua jogging and swimming in her healing journey. But she who had taken her health for granted realized her mistake soon.

Physical and mental breaks to get back in form

Immediately after her season conclusion, she emerged as a physical and mental advocate. Keeping her own story as an example, she had some inspiring notes to share with her fellow dreamers. Quigley quipped, “I recommend everyone to do this after a build up to a major event, whatever that may be for you”.

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She further added, “A week or two at least is totally necessary for mind and body to take a break from both training and thinking about training constantly”. She shed light on how important recognizing the will of the heart is. “It’s refreshing. I run when I want and how much I want. Then after a while… it’s boring. When I get the itch, that means it’s time to get back to serious training!” was what she concluded her story arc with.

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