58-year-old grandmother qualifies for Olympics: 'Age is no barrier'
58-year-old grandmother qualifies for Olympics: 'Age is no barrier'
Michelle Rohl came out of retirement and is now headed to her fourth Olympics.
ByYi-Jin Yu
July 1, 2024, 3:28 PM
A 58-year-old grandmother from Pennsylvania has qualified to represent the U.S. Olympic team in race walking at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
When announcing the preview to the women's 20 km race walk trials, USA Track & Field called Michelle Rohl a "physical marvel" and noted that she is "the third fastest U.S. woman ever" in race walking.
Michelle Rohl places second in the women's 20km race walk in 1:42:27 in the 20km race walk during the US Olympic Team Trials on Jun 29, 2024 in Springfield, Ore.Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
Rohl, a member of the Greater Philadelphia Track Club, finished in third place with a time of 1:42:27 at the trials, which were held in Springfield, Oregon, on June 29. She holds the Olympic trials record, coming out on top after she qualified in July 2000 with a 20 km race walk time of 1:32:39 in Sacramento, California. Rohl also appeared at her first Olympic trials over three decades ago, competing in the 10 km race walk trials in 1992, making her the athlete with "the longest span of competition at the Trials by any athlete, male or female," according to USATF.
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After she qualified for the Olympics over the weekend, USATF announced her results and said Rohl shows "that age is no barrier in the event."
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Rohl is a three-time Olympian and is returning to Paris next month for her fourth Olympics, after coming out of retirement. She competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games and retired to homeschool her five children and focus on her family.
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Now 58, Rohl is ready to compete again and she told "The Morning Call" she trains every day, running about 45 miles each week.