Watching the Olympic Trials, it was sreigning Olympic Champion Sanya Richards Ross left the race with an injury.  As fans we were all hoping to see her repeat as Olympic Champion in Rio but this was not to be.

This wasn’t the ending Sanya Richards Ross had hoped for but as she spoke with the sideline reporter, I was struck by how gracious she was.  This was most likely the end of her racing career and instead of having a pity party, she was spending her time thanking the crew, NBC Sports, her teammates, and fans for all of the support over the years.

How awesome is that!!!

Career Accomplishments

(Courtesy of USA Track and Field.com)

USA Championships
Six-time USA Outdoor 400m champion – 2003 (51.01); 2005 (49.28); 2006 (49.27); 2008 (49.89); 2009 (50.05); 2012 (49.28)
Runner-up at 2014 USA Outdoor 400m (49.66)
3rd at 2012 Olympic Trials 200m (22.22)
2004 Olympic Trials 400m runner-up (49.89)
2002 USA Junior 400m champion (50.69)

International Championships
2012 Olympic gold medalist (49.55)
2009 World Outdoor champion (49.00)
Three-time Olympic 4x400m gold medalist – 2004 (3:19.01); 2008 (3:18.54); 2012 (3:16.87)
2008 Olympic 400m bronze medalist (49.93)
Four-time World Outdoor 4x400m gold medalist – 2003 (3:22.63); 2007 (3:18.55); 2009 (3:17.83); 2011 (3:18.09)
2012 World Indoor champion (50.79)
2012 World Indoor 4x400m runner-up (3:28.79)
2006 World Cup 200m (22.23) and 400m (48.70) champion
2005 World Outdoor silver medalist (49.74)
2002 World Junior 400m silver medalist (51.49) and 200m bronze medalist (23.09)

Collegiate Championships
2003 NCAA 400m champion (50.58)
2003 NCAA Indoor 200m (22.90) and 400m (51.87) runner-up

Awards and honors
American outdoor record holder (48.70)
Two-time IAAF World Athlete of the Year (2006, 2009)
Two-time Jesse Owens Award winner (2006, 2009)
2005 Visa champion and Humanitarian Athlete of the Year
NCAA Indoor 400m record holder (50.82)
2003 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year
Two-time Florida High School Female Athlete of the Year
2002 Gatorade National High School Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year
USA Junior (50.58) and high school 400m record holder (50.69)

Future Plans

Sanya says that she is planning on going into broadcasting.  She helped to call the rest of the Olympic trials and she was FANTASTIC so I definitely see her doing well with that AND she plans on starting a family with her husband.

Congratulations on a FANTASTIC career and better yet being a wonderful SPORTSWOMAN.  Sanya embodies everything we support and we wish her much luck in the future!