Raena Rhone - Road to Rio 2016

I was 8 years old, fresh from a soccer game, I was asked if I wanted to enter into a race at my brother, Armand’s, middle school track meet. Of course, I said yes. What came next was to everyone’s surprise. Who would have thought that an 8-year-old could beat 7th graders in the 200m…in her soccer cleats?

This is the story that began it all.

Ever since I realized the extent of my athletic talents, I have sacrificed time, social events, that extra Christmas cookie, and so much more. However, these sacrifices have all been worth it. I have achieved accolades such as runner-up at both the AAU (Ambler Olympic Club, Ambler, PA) and USATF (University of Chicago Track Club, Zephyrs Track Club, and Flight Track Club, Chicago, IL) Junior Olympic Games and became a Hershey Games International Champion as a youth. I also became a 2-time IHSA (Illinois State High School Association) Champion as a high-schooler (Chicago’s Whitney M. Young Magnet H.S.) and a 2-time Big 12 Champion and NCAA All-American as a collegiate at Baylor University (view my collegiate bio at http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/c-track/mtt/raena_rhone_786153.html), where I also served as a team captain. However, there is one major athletic achievement I have yet to attain – a medal in the Olympic Games.

Becoming an Olympian has been my goal ever since I stepped foot onto a track. In 8th Grade (The Frances Xavier Warde School), I was selected as one of 12 young Olympic hopefuls to represent the City of Chicago’s 2016 Olympic Bid in the “Chicago Stories” video which was presented to the U.S. and International Olympic Committees. The video can be seen at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ErZGZnPNmA. Though Rio de Janeiro

won over Chicago for the bid, my Olympic dream remains the same.

This road has not been easy, as I have endured countless physical and emotional challenges. However, these obstacles have helped to shape me into a confident and resilient young lady, as well as a role model on a personal, academic, and athletic level.

I am blessed to have already run the qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Trials. As I train each day for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, I am also maintaining a 3.71 GPA as I complete my degree in Health Science Studies and minor in Business Administration. Concurrently, I am applying to Pharmacy School and working two part-time jobs as a tutor and pharmacy technician in order to fund my Olympic dream. As an unsponsored athlete, it is difficult to come up with sufficient funds for training shoes, spikes, meet uniforms, warm-ups, meet-entry fees, plane tickets, taxis, car rentals, food and lodging. However, you can help make my dream possible by assisting financially.

Your contributions will not be in vain as you can expect from me unwavering dedication and work ethic towards my life-long goal. I cannot thank you enough for your love and support along the way, and for taking the time to read my story. I greatly appreciate your investment in keeping my Olympic dream alive. Olympic accomplishments cannot be attained alone, and together, I believe that we will get to Rio!

Finally, if you have not had the opportunity to observe my performances, I invite you to see my video body of work at the following links:

· USATF.TV:                            http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365&do=videos&video_id=113032

· YouTube (29 videos):      https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=raena+rhone

Much Love,

Raena Rhone


‘“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”’ – Mark 9:23