Perseverance pays off for Olympic marathoner Dakotah Lindwurm

Before the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, Dakotah Lindwurm told her father to go get his passport. 

"I let him know, 'I am going to Paris,'" she said. "'I am going to make it, so you have to go get your passport.'" 

As Lindwurm entered the trials as an underdog, not many others in the running community may have predicted that outcome. But Lindwurm was no stranger to being an underdog. 

The former cross country and track and field standout at Northern State began her running career during her freshman year of high school in Minnesota and remembers the difficult realization that success in the sport would not come as easy as she had initially hoped. 

"I signed up for track because in the mile in gym class I would typically beat all of the other girls," she said. "So I was like, 'Hey, maybe I'm not too bad at running. Maybe I've got a gift for it.' So I went out for the track team my freshman year and turns out, I was not naturally gifted. I took last in most of my JV races. But I really hate being bad at things. So I think if anything, that really fueled my fire." 

Lindwurm stuck with running and joined the cross country team during her sophomore year. She said that doing so allowed her to fall in love with running.

Still, finding long-term success did not seem likely. When it came time for college, Lindwurm had not achieved any notable marks that would allow her to be recruited or earn an athletic scholarship. After meeting with the Northern State coach during a campus tour, Lindwurm decided to join the team as a walk-on. 

"I was thrilled with that," she said. 

Being at a Division II school allowed Lindwurm to thrive. She enjoyed the smaller class sizes and appreciated a coaching philosophy that prioritized academic achievement, as well as enjoyment and well-being. 

"There's a little bit less pressure in Division II," she said. "It's not necessarily all about performance. … If we ran great, that was awesome, but (my coach) was much more worried about making sure we were enjoying the process." 

While her focus may not have been on performance, Lindwurm certainly found athletic success during her college career. A six-time NCAA Division II national qualifier and two-time All-American, Lindwurm achieved her best finish when she placed sixth in the 10,000-meter race at the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. With the tremendous growth that Lindwurm saw during her career, her coach saw potential for success after college and expressed his belief that she could qualify for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. 

With this in mind, Lindwurm continued running. Beginning a professional running career with the Minnesota Distance Elite team in 2018, Lindwurm continued to experience steady improvement. Her first marathon came in 2019 as she competed at the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. Lindwurm finished the race in fourth with a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes, 2 seconds, qualifying her for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. After finishing 36th at the trials, Lindwurm continued to train and improve, eventually returning to the Grandma's Marathon in 2021 and 2022, winning the race both times. Lindwurm's time of 2:25:01 in 2022 distinguished her as the 12th fastest U.S. women's marathoner of all time, showcasing her true potential in the event. 

Lindwurm continued chasing her dreams in the sport, making several sacrifices along the way. In the two months leading up the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida, she moved to the area to train in the conditions she would be facing on race day. Lindwurm credits her supporters with continuing to believe in her and motivate her throughout the entire journey. When race day finally came, she specifically remembers thinking of her father's unwavering support. 
"Day in and day out, he's always just had this undeniable belief in me," Lindwurm said. "He always has told me anybody can beat anybody on any given day, and going into this race at the Olympic Trials, I was an underdog. So I was keeping his belief in my head." 

This belief carried Lindwurm to a third-place finish. Crossing the line in 2:25:31, she saw her middle school dreams become reality as she punched her ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Lindwurm will represent Team USA alongside American distance running greats Fiona O'Keeffe and Emily Sisson in the Aug. 11 race. 

"It was both relief and so much excitement," Lindwurm said, reflecting on the moments after the race. "I've put so much on the line, and I work really, really hard day in and day out to see my dreams come true."

Feeling like an underdog once again heading into the Olympic race this summer, Lindwurm is not shying away from the opportunity to represent her country. 

"I'm so excited to get to wear 'USA' across my chest," she said. "I'm excited to just stick my nose in where it doesn't belong amongst the best in the world. You just never know what's going to happen. It's a hilly course. It could be a hot day. I'm excited to mix it up and hopefully surprise people again." 

Despite her slow start in running, Lindwurm has committed herself to hard work and self-improvement. As a result, she has cemented herself as one of America's top female distance runners. As she looks forward to the Olympics, she remembers where she came from and how it has motivated her to take on each challenge that has come her way. She hopes that her journey can serve as an inspiration to others to work hard and dream big, no matter where they come from. 

"It's really easy to look at the label and say, 'Oh, I'm not as good as a Division I athlete' or 'I'm not as good as a full-ride athlete,'" she said. "But if you're willing to work hard and just dream the biggest dreams, you're going to be able to do it. I don't think you should put limits on yourself based on where you are right now. Just work hard for what you want."