200 men and 149 women got their chance to shake hands with paradise as they participated in the 2024 US Olympic Marathon trials today. The buzz in Orlando, Florida was electric and the audience watched with bated breath who among these athletes would fulfill their dreams to appear in the prestigious Paris Olympics 2024. 

Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. In what was supposed to be a gleeful homecoming for Jenny Simpson, the 37-year-old was left teary-eyed at the end of the race. Latest reports suggested that Simpson will have an anti-climactic finish to the hyped race. Why? Let’s find out why.

Jenny Simpson has an emotional end to the trials

In the women’s race, which had a 10:20 am ET start, Jenny Simpson could not continue her run and pulled out midway into the marathon. While she had a forgettable year due to her hernia injury and her house being significantly affected by the Marshall fire, the 37-year-old aimed for her fourth Olympic team in today’s run. 

Even though she failed to continue in her quest, the crowd was on their feet to boost up the morals of Simpson. The Orlando native and the former Olympic medalist was showered with loud cheers throughout her race. Running in front of her hometown surely made her emotional, which was evident from the expressions on her face. 

However, in her defense, this was an unknown territory for the 11-time US champion. Simpson had never participated in a marathon till now. Her only experience close enough was when she competed in a half marathon. The famed middle-distance runner had never gone beyond 24 miles and thus, Simpson would surely have her head held high after displaying tremendous grit and determination to participate in the Marathon trials. 

Jenny Simpson’s return to action was much more than a question of just winning or losing. The American had to cope with one of the darkest phases of her life recently. 

A wildfire and an injury almost ended Jenny Simpson’s career

The Marshall Wildfire wreaked havoc in December 2021, burning almost 1000 homes to ashes. Unfortunately, although Simpson did not have to go through the trauma, she had to be displaced away from her home for 10 long months before normalcy was restored. 

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To make things worse, her sponsorship with New Balance ended soon after, leaving Simpson wanting for a sponsor for the entirety of 2022. The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee terminated her health insurance due to her inability to maintain the performance standards. Her attempts to make a comeback suffered a huge setback when she was diagnosed with hernia and was advised to cut down significantly on intense workouts. 

Luckily, in the end, it was Jenny Simpson’s grit and willpower that won. Even though she failed to finish her race, the comeback was enough to send a strong and a positive message to the entire racing community. 

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