Francena McCorory: Road to Gold

Myself and McCorory in Hampton University's Armstrong Stadium

Interview with gold medal winner Francena McCorory

In the London Olympics this past summer, Hampton alumna, Francena McCorory represented for Hamptonians and the USA by winning a gold medal in the women’s 4×4.
McCorory ran a 49.39 split time as the third leg and propelled the USA to a four second victory over Russia.
“We were trying to break the world record, and we were a second off,” McCorory said.
Even being a second off, the Hampton native was more than prepared for the hand-off of the baton and her run.
“Just to get it around the track, so we can finish. I saw that we had a really big lead but for some reason I was running so hard anyways,” McCorory said.
London was not strictly work for McCorory; she also made time to meet new people thoroughly enjoy herself. “I always like to meet Usain Bolt, he is really fun and he has a lot of personality,” McCorory said. Also she confessed that she “pigged out” at the McDonalds buffet in the Olympic Village after winning the gold medal.
After becoming a gold medalist, McCorory justified her hard work that begin once she realized the Olympics were a possibility.
“I ran track in high school and my senior year I broke the national high school record in the 400 meter dash indoor,” said McCorory. “That’s when I realized that I could make a career out of it.”
As for her time at Hampton University, McCorory had a ball. Her favorite memories at Hampton were attending Holland jams, but she didn’t spend all of her time partying. As a college athlete she set the NCAA indoor record in the 400 meter run with a time of 50.54.
McCorory took a break from training after being involved in two car accidents. These experiences helped her prepare for London.
“I just kept pushing forward because I always knew this was my dream,” McCorory said.
God willing, McCorory plans on competing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic games.