Hi, my name is Cara Simpson

I am originally from Detroit, Michigan, but Jacksonville Florida is where I call home. I grew up as the youngest of three children. Being that I was the youngest, I always felt the need to prove to everyone that I could be just as good or better than them. I am glad I inherited that mentality because it has allowed me to overcome many limitations that were placed on me while growing up. One limitation is that I would never run track at the professional level, but look at me now. Track and Field was not always my first love. I was a very athletic kid growing up, so it was only right that I tried every sport, literally.

My track dreams were soon planted in me at seven years old when I decided to practice barefoot on a concrete track in the Florida heat. Imagine that, I could barely walk for the following couple of days due to the blisters on the bottom of my feet, but if that does not demonstrate dedication then I don’t know what does. Since then, I have set my sight on competing in the Olympic Games and I have never wavered from that. My hard work and determination are two characteristics that I pride myself on. Without those two traits I never would have joined the college track team as a walk-on, I never would have earned a full-ride scholarship at a Division 1 college, I never would have turned professional, and I never would have had the opportunity to train for the Olympic Games like I am now.

Personally, I believe that my story is one that people will never forget. I lost my best friend at 17 years old to gun violence, one year later I lost my track coach of 10 years, and during my junior year of college I was assaulted by a former coach; nevertheless, I am still standing. I wanted to share those things to motivate others and show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel as long as you keep going. Never let your journey define you; you are the author of your story. My biggest aspiration in life is to be an inspiration to others.