Tokyo Olympics: Molly Seidel wins bronze medal to become third American woman to medal in marathon

U.S. Olympic marathoner Molly Seidel stunned the running world Friday, winning a bronze medal in just her third attempt at the marathon.

Seidel, 27, turned into the main American female marathoner to medal since Deena Kastor won bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Seidel, a collegiate cross-country champion, fought warmth and humidity to hang with a portion of the world’s best female marathoners, including Kenyan sprinters Peres Jepchirchir, who dominated the competition to procure gold, and the female marathon world-record holder, Brigid Kosgei, who took silver.

The Wisconsin local, who was not expected to arrive at the platform at the Olympics, figured out how to stay with the top runners as the lead pack was trimmed down to three in the end couple of miles of the race.

Authorities chose last year to move the marathon to Sapporo, Japan, around 500 miles north of Tokyo where the remainder of the Olympics move is making place, with the desire for cooler temperatures. It didn’t work. Seidel and different runners fought 86% humidity and road temperatures over 100 degrees.

Seidel procured her ticket to Japan in her absolute first marathon at the U.S. Olympic trials in Atlanta in February 2020.