Olympian Alysia Montano runs like a girl--and she's proud of it

How does that feel? In an interview with NBC Sports, Alysia, 26, said she is “super duper elated.” Being an Olympian to her “means perseverance, it means resilience, it means fighting through adversity.” In other words? She’s psyched.

Listening to Alysia, you can’t help but fall in love. She’s all about bravery and heart. And after she won the 800 m women’s trial, she handed out her signature hibiscus flower, which she wear’s in her hair during every race, to onlookers.

“The flower to me means strength with femininity,” she said. “I think a lot of people say things like, ‘You run like a girl.’ That doesn’t mean that you have to run soft or you have to run dainty. It means that you’re strong.”

BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 6/26/2012 3:57:00 PM

POSTED IN mind/motivation, athlete, running, olympics, London 2012