The recently concluded US Olympic Marathon Trial of 2024 was the show of a lifetime. A dominating track star let his best friend take the podium, while another ran with a 7-month pregnant belly. When it came to making their Olympic dream team, no athlete let any hurdle come in their way.

Some feel blessed to have had an opportunity to attempt at least, and some are not content with the results. But one factor has assembled all the athletes under the same roof. The idea of never giving up.

The US Olympic Marathon Trial has an athlete leave a heartfelt note

Lindsay Flanagan, the American long-distance runner, wanted to do it big on the Olympic track at age 34. But her 8th finish and a time of, 2:26.25 left her down-hearted but with no hard feelings for anything or anyone. Resorting to her Instagram, she wrote, “not the outcome I hoped and trained for….I’m letting myself feel all the emotions-mostly deep sadness and frustration, but not allowing myself to give up.” Her caption further read, “At the end of the day, the most beautiful and heartbreaking moments of the marathon come when you push yourself to the limit, ride that red line, and still find the power within to finish when it gets incredibly difficult.”

Unwilling to give up on sizeable dreams, she awaits another chance to make it to the global stage. With clasped hands and a hopeful heart, Flanagan is starting anew. But one thing that we can’t look past is her investment in her sisters’ dreams as well. Hailing from Illinois, both Kaylee and Lindsay Flanagan have grown up loving the track.

 The unique bond between the Flanagan sisters

Both sibling and coach, Lindsay Flanagan, has proven herself as the ideal sister anybody could have. The first American finisher, with a time of 2:27:47, had displayed her prowess at the World Championships marathon in Budapest. On December 3 last year, in Adelaide, Australia, her sister competed at the California International Marathon.

READ MORE: US Olympic Marathon: 4x US 1-Mile National Champion Reveals Heartwarming Emotions About the Race, Mentions “Waves of Goosebumps”

Not being present at the meet didn’t stop her from cheering on her little sibling from afar. Securing her first Olympia Trials qualifying time of 2:35:24 also gave Kaylee her personal best. Sitting thousands of miles away, a content Flanagan had said, “I did not sleep at all that night. I was so invested.” Their bond went beyond familial ties. The sisters were among the top picks at the Trials this year. But it looks like they have to wait further.

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