What pushes an athlete to keep going and reach the heights of greatness? Perhaps the unquenching thirst to bag as many medals as they can. The sheer willpower, the sweat, and the number of hours burned at training all converged on a single goal: claiming victory—to blaze past the finish line before anyone else. But there’s another ecosystem that works behind the curtains and supports the athlete at every fall and every bump. Allyson Felix, the American sprinting great, calls it the support of her family. For Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo, it was her mother who made him the star athlete he is.

For Michael Norman, the American speedster who is carrying the hopes of his nation in the 400m finals at the summer events, that support comes from his fiancée. The Bowerman Award winner from US Track and Field and Cross Country, Norman, credits her fiancée as the compass that keeps him in the right direction. Who is the lady luck standing behind Norman in thick and thin and pushing him hard to claim an Olympic medal? We explore the love life of Michael Norman and his fiancee and how she is the force behind Norman’s journey to the Paris Olympics.

Meet Michael Norman’s girlfriend, Jenna Adams

The lady who is the center of the universe for Michael Norman and his biggest backer is Jenna Adams. Norman and Jenna used to study at the same university, which is the University of Southern California. But it was their mutual love for sports that eventually created the chance encounter that would blossom into a lifelong relationship. Jenna played volleyball for the university, while Norman was on the track and field team. They dated for a couple of years before exchanging rings in the fall of 2023. What’s the story forward then?

Jenna, now 26 years old, graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2019. She later earned a master of science in finance. Unlike Norman, who continued with his sports, Jenna moved to investment banking and currently counts herself as an investment banking associate at Goldman Sachs. But her sporting legacy is far richer than her collegiate volleyball career. She comes from a family brimming with sporting talent. Her father, Jeff Adams, was a football player at UCLA, and her uncle, Scott Almquist, was an ace golfer representing San Diego State. According to olympics.com, Michael Norman and Jenna Adams will be walking the aisle on September 28, 2024, strengthening the bond further and sealing support for each other for life.

Jenna Adams is the biggest cheerleader for the American sprinter

The biggest support from Jenna to Norman is her understanding of the physical demands of his sports and the mental toll they take on him. Her role as the cheerleader, celebrating his success and helping through challenges, keeps the star sprinter on course.

According to Jenna, “What I can help him with and, you know, be a supportive partner is finding ways to relax. Norman needs this cooperation to help him deal with the demanding requirements of being a top athlete.”

That is perhaps the biggest strength of Norman and Jenna’s relationship. Jenna’s resilience and preparedness to be supportive in every situation are probably the forces behind Norman’s success.