In honor of Global Running Day on June 2, USATF is celebrating all week long with athlete profiles of coaches, alumni, and current athletes. Rose Monday 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo - U.S. Women’s Head Coach USATF Women’s Track & Field Chair When I was nine years old, I watched Bob Beamon win the 1968 Olympic gold medal in the men’s long jump. I stood in front of the family TV and cried during the medal ceremony. I knew at that moment that that is what I wanted to do when I grew up. I was going to become an Olympian. I am the second oldest of six kids and came from a working-class background in the Los Angeles area. I was shy and lacked self-confidence. My mother signed us up for several sports to keep us out of trouble. I liked all sports that didn’t involve a ball (swimming, cycling, gymnastics, roller skating), but loved running the best. I loved the feeling of running fast and jumping. My brothers and sisters would challenge the much older neighbor boys to race me. I would always win. In 8th grade, my dad signed me up for a track team and bought me my first pair of Nike shoes. I started the Girls’ Track Team at my high school because they only had a Boys’ Team. Track & field has taught me to set goals and to work hard to reach them. It gave me confidence and courage to overcome my shyness and to dream big. It taught me patience and resilience. It has taught me how to win and lose gracefully. It has taught me humility. It has taught me to believe in myself even when others may not believe in me. I put my goals out there at age nine. I reached for the moon and because of that I traveled the world and got paid to do it. Although I did not become an Olympian, I became a National Indoor Champion, a World Masters Champion, and have represented Team USATF. Who would have thought the dreams I had as a child would lead me to a fantastic running and coaching career? The ultimate honor has been being named the 2020 Head Women’s Track & Field Olympic Coach for Team USA. I hope you’ll cheer us all on in Tokyo.