RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As Jenny Simpson took an extra lap around the blue track Tuesday night, Stars and Stripes in tow, and celebrated becoming the first U.S. woman to medal in the Olympic 1,500 meters, she thought back to a moment of disappointment.
At the 2015 world championships in Beijing, Simpson lost a shoe after getting stepped on and was forced to complete her event with her left foot bare. She ended up 11th, a far cry from her 2011 world title and 2013 runner-up finish.
Now she has her Olympic bronze, finishing third at Olympic Stadium in 4 minutes, 10.