Anna Hall celebrates after the women's heptathlon 800 meters during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team trials in Eugene, Oregon. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Anna Hall's Olympic bid means redemption after failing to qualify three years ago. Now comes the fun part.
Zoom in: Hall's ferocious comeback culminated with the 23-year-old finishing first in the Olympic Trials in June to land a spot in Paris.
The moment came three years after a crash during the hurdles competition in the Olympic trials that cost her a spot in Tokyo.
The big picture: The Greenwood Village native arrives in France as not just the top-ranked women's heptathlete in the U.S., but in the world.
State of play: Hall is a serious contender to become America's first gold medalist in the multi-event competition since Jackie Joyner-Kersee, an icon who finished first during the 1988 and 1992 Games.
Joyner-Kersee, Hall's personal idol, was among the fans celebrating Hall's win in June.
What they're saying: "The journey to get here has been so much harder than I ever imagined," Hall said after her Olympic trials victory in June.
"I'm just so thankful that we've finally made it."
Context: Even for the Olympics, the heptathlon is particularly grueling.
The competition requires balancing seven events over two days, including the high jump, shot put, javelin and an 800-meter run.
What's next: The women's heptathlon begins Aug. 8.
