Molly Seidel wins bronze in marathon for first US medal in event since 2004

From barista and babysitter to bronze medalist, U.S runner Molly Seidel has transformed nearly overnight.

Running in just the third official marathon of her career on Saturday in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo, the 27-year-old Seidel pulled off an upset and finished third in the women’s Olympic event with a time of 2:27:46. Her bronze medal is the first medal for an American woman in the event since Deena Kastor earned bronze in 2004, and just the third podium appearance overall.

Peres Jepchirchir (2:27:20) and Brigid Kosgei (2:27:36) both finished less than a minute ahead of Seidel to secure gold and silver, respectively, for Kenya.

“I wanted to go and be that person who, when you’re racing, they’re all saying, ‘Who the hell is this girl?'” Seidel told reporters after the race, per NPR. “I just wanted to stick my nose in where it didn’t belong and get after it. The Olympics only happens every four years, you might as well take your shot.”

She added: “I did get a bit overcome and start crying a little bit. This is the day you dream of your entire life. This is what it means to be an athlete.”

Finishing second at the US Olympic trials last February, Seidel had only raced at that distance one other time at the London Marathon in October. Seidel had finished behind her compatriot Aliphine Tuliamuk, who did not finish the Olympic race because of an injury.

Seidel was overcome with emotion when she crossed the finish line, and she was then given an opportunity to speak with her family who watched from her home in Wisconsin.

“I can’t believe it. Just getting here was a dream come true,” Seidel told NBC. “This is not just me. This is my family, this is my coach, this is everyone who’s trained with me. I just can’t believe this right now. I’m so grateful for everyone who got me here and I’m so happy.”

Seidel, who was a national champion cross country runner at Notre Dame, spent much of her amateur career running 3,000 to 10,000 meters – less than a quarter of the length of a marathon. If it weren’t for the sacral fracture she suffered in 2016, Seidel likely would’ve competed at the US Olympic trials that year.

The start of her professional career was incredibly rocky because of her struggles with OCD and eating disorders. But Seidel persevered and ultimately made it to the 2020 Olympic trials while supporting herself as a babysitter and barista.