Marla Runyan

In 2000, Marla Runyan became the first legally blind American track & field athlete to qualify and compete for the United States Olympic Team. A 5-time Paralympic Gold Medalist and holder of numerous world records among visually impaired athletes, Marla earned her status as one of America's top middle and long distance runners by winning three consecutive USATF National Championship titles at 5000 meters, and seven USATF Road Championship titles. Marla made her second Olympic Team in 2004, and was the USATF National Marathon Champion in 2006. To date, Marla remains the only visually impaired U.S.  athlete to qualify and compete in both the Paralympic and Olympic Games. Learn more about Marla's remarkable story.