Cory Ann McGee was delighted, but not surprised, to make the U.S. Olympic Team.
A world-class runner from Pass Christian, McGee’s self-belief propelled her on the path to Tokyo. She sealed her spot in the Games on June 21, when she ran the 1,500-meter race in 4:00.67 — her personal best.
“I knew it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever worked toward,” she says, “but I also felt prepared in every way.”
Her parents, Jim and Shawna, raised McGee and her three sisters to be strong-willed and hardworking. Her close family grew up playing sports and running together.
After visiting Marine Life with her grandparents, McGee went through a phase of wanting to be a dolphin trainer. But from the age of 12, she’s been focused on running track for Team USA.
“When I think of home, I think of the many people along the Coast who have been a part of my dream to become an Olympian,” McGee says. “I think of the friendly faces who cheered for me as a kid who loved to run. I think of the beach where I first began running, and my sisters and family joining me at the track for so many workouts.”
As a student at Pass Christian High School, McGee was a 22-time state track and field champion, and when she went on to run for the University of Florida, she was an NCAA Division 1 Track and Field All-American.
The New Balance-sponsored athlete’s training regimen varies throughout the year. The fall and winter are dedicated to higher mileage, and she often runs 70-80 miles per week during this period.
In spring, McGee gears up for competition with less mileage, more work on the track and more intense gym sessions. In summer, she goes to the track three times a week, races often and focuses on “feeling fast and recovering.”
As for her mindset, she approaches most competitions the same way.
“Being happy and relaxed are important,” she says. “Of course, some stakes are higher, but my routine leading into races has little variation.
“In terms of readiness, I believe feeling calm is the most successful mindset. I focus on being organized, having little stress, keeping things simple, and sticking to what I know.”
Living through Hurricane Katrina taught McGee how to fight through adversity — a skill she credits largely for her present success. Although she lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado, most of the year, the Coast is on her mind and in her heart as she wears her Team USA singlet at the Olympic starting line.
“I love where I am from and love being home,” she says. “My hope is for my community to feel like a part of this journey.”
CORY SAYS:
- I love to work hard and do not want anything I did not earn or work for.
- I very rarely, if ever, feel sorry for myself.
- I do not believe in luck, but I do believe in making the most of your circumstances.
- I am very proud to have three sisters to share my highs and lows with. They believe in me, and I am so grateful for that.
- I am deeply motivated to prove the people who believe in me right rather than prove the doubters wrong.