Unstoppable at 37, Injury Fails to Stop Galen Rupp From Appearing in His Fifth Olympic Marathon Trial This Weekend

Feb 2, 2024 | 10:45 AM EST

Link Copied!

The marathons at the Olympic Games are a sporting event unlike any other. The will to finish the longest race in the Olympics takes massive endurance and strength, making it a highly anticipated thriller for both athletes and fans. As the 2024 United States Olympic Marathon trials are just days away, the excitement to see the best of the best battle it out for a ticket to Paris has reached fever pitch.

Among the array of notable icons set to grace the course in Orlando is 37-year-old veteran Galen Rupp. Despite a history of injuries that aimed to mar his career, Rupp has remained unstoppable in his pursuit and now seeks to mark his name in history.

The painful setback in the career of Galen Rupp

Article continues below this ad

According to the NBC Olympics, Galen Rupp, the four-time Olympian and a well-known long-distance runner, faced a major setback in 2022. During the New York City Marathon, he experienced excruciating pain due to a herniated disc in his back, causing him to drop out of the race. He said, “I was in a lot of pain just walking around… My whole body was twisted up. It was a rough couple of years.” This experience not only was a major wake-up call to him but also made him reevaluate and change his training program to recover.

After the NYC Marathon, he began training from scratch, utilizing his time to rediscover the sport he once dominated. And now, two years after the incident, he is set to make waves at the 2024 United States Olympic Marathon trials in downtown Orlando, Florida. And the moment promises to be historic—read on to discover why.

Article continues below this ad

How are the trials for the Paris Olympic Games 2024 a milestone chance?

On Saturday, February 3, 2024, the 2024 United States Olympic Marathon Trials will see the best of the best vie for a chance to represent the nation at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite the challenges in 2022, Galen Rupp, now healthy, aims to qualify for his fifth Olympic Games. His first Olympic appearance was in 2008, and he has since earned two Olympic medals. Making it to the Olympics for the fifth time would be a significant achievement, as only 88 athletes in the history of track and field have achieved this milestone.

Article continues below this ad

He shared, “It would be awesome to make a fifth team.” The trials are a tough competition, and Rupp has won the previous two editions. However, this year’s qualification is more challenging, with only two spots available for U.S. men in the 2024 Olympic marathon, compared to three in previous Games. Set to face formidable competitors like Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Sam Chelanga, and others, fans eagerly await to see if the veteran will surge to success, clinching yet another historic victory. Do you think Galen Rupp will make it to the Olympics for the fifth time? Comment below!

Watch this story: Noah Lyles Is All In, Rooting for the $155m Esports Giants at Worlds 2023