Cambridge’s Molly Seidel Wins Bronze Medal In Olympic Marathon

Molly Seidel had run simply two marathons earlier than taking the beginning line for the race on the Tokyo Olympics.

As they are saying, the third time is the allure.

Seidel, who lives in Cambridge, Mass., received the bronze medal for the ladies’s marathon occasion, ending with a time of two hours, 27 minutes, 46 seconds. She was simply 20 seconds behind the winner, Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir.

A local of Wisconsin and an NCAA champion whereas at Notre Dame, Seidel ran her first marathon on the U.S. Olympic marathon trials final February. Her second was in London in October, the place she grew to become the ninth-fastest American girl in historical past by ending in 2:25.13.

Seidel has been open about her struggles with bulimia and varied sicknesses and accidents. Earlier than qualifying for the Olympic staff, she informed her former collegiate coach that she wasn’t certain about her future within the sport.

All of that was behind her as she ready to signify the U.S. on the world’s greatest stage.

“Truthfully, I believe I’m simply in a greater psychological place,” Seidel mentioned in October 2020, per David Woods of The Indianapolis Star. “I?m having fun with what I?m doing. I?m having enjoyable. I believe that performs an enormous position in it.”