PARIS: Ashley Uhl-Leavitt, a marathon runner based in Florida, achieved a dream few athletes ever realize—qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Despite participating in prestigious races like the New York City Marathon, this marks her first entry into the Olympic marathon event. Uhl-Leavitt shared her journey, describing the immense competition for marathon spots and the challenges of balancing training with two jobs—personal training and bartending—in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
To fund her Olympic pursuit, she turned to crowdfunding on GoFundMe. Like many aspiring Olympians, Uhl-Leavitt faces the financial strain of training full-time while covering expenses such as competition fees, travel, and healthcare out of pocket. The narrative extends to other athletes like Jennifer Lozano, a boxer from Laredo, Texas, who also relies on crowdfunding to support her Olympic aspirations.
Despite receiving a stipend from USA Boxing, Lozano still grapples with financial burdens, including the costs of her family and coaches attending the games. Both Uhl-Leavitt and Lozano exemplify the dedication and sacrifice required to pursue Olympic glory amidst financial challenges.
