The former Illinois State University runner and Moline native felt as though she was in the best shape of her life and primed to compete in her second Olympics this summer. She was hoping to shock the world running the 1,500 meters for Jamaica in the Tokyo Games.
Then word came last week that games have been postponed. Due to fears surrounding the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, they will now be held in 2021.
While Praught-Leer and the group of athletes with whom she trains in Boulder, Colo., were disappointed, she totally understands.
"The duty of the Olympics is the whole world comes together, and what we need to do in the world right now is not come together," she said.