Shafiqua Maloney On Her Path From Being Homeless, Unsponsored To Running 1:57 To Finish 4th In The Olympic 800m Final

“I had to really sit down and look at the journey, how far I’ve come, what I was able to accomplish in such a short time in my opinion, and just everything that I went through. It doesn’t haunt me. Like I said, I'm a graceful loser. But I'm training and I'm doing the work to make sure that if I'm ever in that position again – we'll see!”

My guest for today's episode is Shafiqua Maloney, a name that maybe most track and field fans don't know, but should. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she made history as the first athlete from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to reach an Olympic final and finish fourth in the women's 800m, but her journey to that starting line was anything but easy.

In the past few years, Shafiqua has faced struggles that most athletes never talk about – months of homelessness, the constant battle of pursuing an elite career without a sponsor or financial stability. Yet through it all, she never gave up. With the unwavering support of her mother, her coach, and her faith, she found a way to persevere and it all came together in Paris where she ran 1:57 on the biggest stage in the sport.

Today, we talk about how she fought through those times, what it means to represent her country on such a big stage, and what comes next for an athlete determined to keep proving she belongs among the world's best. She'll be one of the headliners for the 2025 Millrose Games on February 8th in New York City. If you're in the area, get your tickets now.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Shafiqua Maloney | @shaf400mx2 on Instagram

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