Finishing fourth in sports can earn an honorable mention, but it often means missing out on a podium finish or advancing to the next round. For Talitha Diggs, the latter was true at Hayward Field on June 22 this year. She was set to compete in the 400m US Olympic trial semi-final event, but her fourth-place finish prevented her from advancing to the final round, ultimately dashing her Paris Olympics hopes. However, 24 years ago, her mother had a similar ranking but succeeded in moving to the next round during her fourth Olympic appearance.

And remember, Talitha Diggs’s mother is not the only Olympian in her family. She has several other relatives who have graced the greatest show on Earth in the past. As we approach the Paris Olympics, let’s take a closer look at that legacy and its subsequent effect on Talitha.

Meet Joetta Clark Diggs and Ronald Clark – parents of Talitha Diggs

Talitha Diggs’ mother, Joetta Clark Diggs, holds the unique honor of being a World Indoor Championship medalist and an Olympian who never missed a trial between 1979 and 2000. Furthermore, she has five USA Outdoor Championships titles to her name. Her younger sister, Hazel Clark, and sister-in-law, Jearl Miles Clark, once formed the “First Family of Track and Field” in the 800m. In the 2000 Olympic Trials, they achieved a clean sweep by taking the podium spots for the USA. Later, Jearl claimed the 4x400m relay gold in that Olympics, one of her two gold medals from the Games. Such a legacy often makes her overwhelmed as Talitha noted to the Olympics.com. She further added, “It’s a mixture, they were these amazing, accomplished athletes.”

In this crowd of athletes, Talitha Diggs’ father, Ronald Diggs adds a different tone as he comes from a business background. But to the 21-year-old athlete, her family comes as the gold mine. Expressing more on that, Talitha’s statements remained, “To have a personal relationship with my aunts is pretty special, to me they’re just Auntie Jearl and Auntie Peachy (Hazel) to me.” That may have inspired her at the Hayward Field two years ago. 

With three Olympic medals, Jearl Miles Clark boasts six World Championship laurels in the 4x400m relay event. Notably, Talitha Diggs has one to her name as well; in the 2022 World Athletics Championships, she achieved the top podium in the same event in Eugene. She also claimed a silver medal in the Indoor edition, marking herself as the befitting successor to that legacy. However, the route has not been easy, as she comes from a family that once reigned the American tracks. Fortunately, Talitha has had her mother’s hand guiding her along the way.

Diggs’s parents were her major support in achieving her athletic dream

Talitha Diggs’ fight with her destiny started, noticing her mother shedding sweat. Those experiences taught her one or two lessons about the sacrifice that is needed to achieve success. Eventually, that realization led her to claim, “I know that she has sacrificed so much. That helps me want to sacrifice because I’m like, ‘Hey, look my mom achieved all of these great things. I want to achieve great things too.’ It’s going to take sacrifice.” Despite having experienced those tough lessons, Talitha still jumps on the love she receives from her mother. 

Calling her mother her best friend, the former Gator, cherishes her role because anything Joetta does, she carries on with a tinge of love. Apart from being a mother and best mate, Joetta Clark Diggs has a few more roles for her daughter. Talitha described that part as “I’m grateful to have her as a mother, a mentor, a friend even, really, she’s my best friend.” So, for a learner like Talitha Diggs, pushing herself to reach a greater height never proves to be heavy, as she always knows that her mother’s arms will be the first thing to hold her. So will her father’s as well. 

Despite coming from a background other than sports, Ronald Diggs has proved to be the perfect motivator for both Talitha and her mother. Unfortunately, this time, Talitha Diggs had to give up on her Olympic dream. However, she has not yet given up entirely, as she still aims to match her mother’s record of being an Olympian.