Vashti Cunningham To Compete In Her Third Olympic Games
Okay let’s just get it out of the way. She is the daughter of retired Philadelphia Eagles’ legend Randall Cunningham. But also an athlete in her own right. Which is why Vashti Cunningham is ready to compete in her third Olympic games. She’ll be competing in the Women’s high jump event and is considered to be a serious contender for the gold medal. On Monday, June 24, Vashti finished third in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials punching her ticket to Paris.
Cunningham was introduced to the sport by her father, Randall Cunningham when she was in the fourth grade. And he is currently her coach. In high school he realized her potential when she jumped 6 feet, 3 inches. Only two other high school athletes in history have been able to make such an impressive jump.
She comes from an athletic family. Besides her father, her uncle, Sam “Bam” Cunningham, is a retired fullback who played for the New England Patriots and is in their Hall of Fame. Her brother, Randall Cunningham II, is a former high jumper and her mother is a former ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
With that kind of pedigree it’s no wonder that she was highly sought after by several colleges. However, her goal was to continue her education at a university while competing as a professional athlete. She did turn pro and in March 2016 she signed a deal with Nike. That same month she jumped 6 feet 61⁄4 inches, winning the 2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Portland, OR. And she’s been winning ever since. She claimed her 13th U.S. high jump title with a victory at the U.S. outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon in July 2023.
Vashti Cunningham To Compete In Her Third Olympic Games
Cunningham is no stranger to the Olympics. And she’s known for being the youngest track and field athlete from the U.S. to qualify for the Olympics since 1980. She made her first appearance in 2016 at the Rio games and finished in 13th place. Things improved at the Tokyo games in 2021 where she came in sixth place. Now she’s ready to head to her third Olympiad with dreams of winning the gold.
For Cunningham, the best part of competing in this year’s Olympics is that it’s being held in Paris. She told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “I’m looking forward to my third Olympics,” Cunningham said recently. “I love jumping (in Paris). I’m just happy to be going to a place that is familiar to me. I’ve been to Paris multiple times, love the atmosphere and feel my energy is always great when I’m there.”
Bon voyage Vashti!
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