This Was Terrible

Summary

Abby Steiner, a rising sprint star, faced a series of injuries that complicated her journey to the 2024 Olympic Trials. Despite groundbreaking performances in previous years, including breaking NCAA and American indoor records, Steiner's path to success has been marred by surgeries on both feet. In 2024, after an impressive semifinal run, her endurance faltered in the finals, preventing her from making the Olympic team. Still, her times remain world-class, and with solid training and health, her future in sprinting holds tremendous potential. This story highlights the tough realities of Olympic Trials and the resilience of elite athletes like Steiner.

Takeaways

• 😀 Making the U.S. Olympic sprinting team is one of the hardest feats in sports, particularly in the 100m and 200m events.
• 😀 Abby Steiner rose to prominence with record-breaking performances, including an indoor 200m American record of 22.09 seconds in 2022.
• 😀 Despite her success, injuries—including multiple foot surgeries—have plagued Steiner's career, affecting her ability to perform at her best.
• 😀 In 2024, Abby Steiner ranked sixth globally in the 200m, with a personal best of 22.03 seconds, but still fell short of making the Olympic team.
• 😀 Steiner's performances in the 2024 Olympic Trials demonstrated her skill, but a lack of endurance in the final event kept her from a top-three finish.
• 😀 The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials featured the fastest qualifying times in history, with a 22.91-second mark required for third place in the 200m.
• 😀 Steiner’s 22.03-second time would have qualified in nearly every past Olympic Trials, highlighting the increasing level of competition in U.S. sprinting.
• 😀 The intense level of competition in the U.S. means that even elite athletes like Steiner can miss out on making the Olympic team despite world-class times.
• 😀 Abby Steiner’s resilience and competitive drive were evident, as she made it to the finals despite dealing with pain from ongoing injuries.
• 😀 If Steiner can fully recover and stay healthy, her future in sprinting remains bright, as her talent has the potential to take her to future Olympic Games.

Q & A

What is one of the most difficult challenges in U.S. athletics?

Making an Olympic team for the United States in a sprinting event, particularly the 100m and 200m, is one of the most difficult challenges in all of sports due to the depth and speed of U.S. athletes.

What records did Abby Steiner set in 2022?

In 2022, Abby Steiner broke both the NCAA and American indoor 200m records, achieving a time of 22.09 seconds, the fastest time on an indoor track in almost three decades.

How did Abby Steiner perform in her 2022 collegiate season?

Abby Steiner had an outstanding 2022 collegiate season, setting a new collegiate 200m record with a time of 21.8 seconds and winning NCAA championships. She also ran one of the fastest 4x4 relay splits in history.

What injuries did Abby Steiner face during her sprinting career?

Abby Steiner faced multiple injuries, including a bone spur in her left Achilles tendon, which required surgery in 2023. She later underwent additional surgeries on both feet in 2023 and 2024.

How did Abby Steiner's injuries affect her performance?

Steiner's injuries and surgeries severely impacted her training and recovery. Despite these challenges, she continued to perform well, though her endurance and peak performance were affected by the reduced training time.

What was Abby Steiner's 2024 season performance in the 200m?

In the 2024 season, Steiner achieved a season's best of 22.03 seconds in the 200m, ranking her sixth in the world, despite dealing with the aftermath of her surgeries.

How did Abby Steiner perform at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials?

At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Steiner placed second in the opening heats of the 200m with a time of 22.2 seconds and ran a season's best of 22.03 seconds in the semifinals. However, she finished sixth in the final, just missing out on qualifying for the Olympic team.

What factor contributed to Abby Steiner's slower performance in the 200m finals?

Steiner's slower performance in the 200m finals was likely due to a lack of endurance, which resulted from limited training due to her surgeries and the pain she experienced during the trials.

What did Abby Steiner do after not making the Olympic team?

After falling short of making the Olympic team, Abby Steiner revealed that she couldn't walk properly for two weeks, leading to a third MRI and subsequent surgery on her left foot, which further demonstrated the extent of her physical challenges.

How has the standard for making the U.S. Olympic sprinting team evolved over time?

The standard for making the U.S. Olympic sprinting team has become significantly more competitive. In 2000, the third-place finish required a time of 23.12 seconds, while in 2024, the third-place finisher needed a time of 22.91 seconds, marking the fastest qualification time in U.S. Olympic Trials history.