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tess stapleton

@tesstapleton

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Suffering a major injury as an athlete is never easy, but it’s especially heartbreaking when it happens two hours before the biggest race of your career, as you’re on the verge of achieving the goal you’ve chased for 5 years.Since arriving at Stanford, I had one dream—qualify for NCAAs and earn All-American status. After years of injuries and setbacks, I came back for a 5th year determined to give myself one last chance, so I could leave knowing I had given everything I had.And it was finally coming together. Two weeks before outdoor season I took a huge leap of faith and switched to a completely new event. Somehow, it worked. After running 55 seconds at ACCs, I found myself ranked top 10 in the NCAA, qualified for USAs, and one race away from punching my ticket to my first NCAA Championships.I never got that chance. Right before the regional 400h final I completely tore my quad running the 4x1 relay. On the day I was supposed to leave for nationals, I was headed into surgery instead. In an instant, the ending I had worked toward for years disappeared.The reality is I’m now leaving 5 years in the NCAA without a national appearance, a major trophy, or the All-American title I dreamed about. It’s hard not to feel like a failure.But somehow, sharing this story feels just as important as sharing the success I hoped for. After my injury, I desperately searched for stories from other athletes whose careers were defined more by heartbreak than highlights—people whose bodies failed them at the worst possible moment or who never got the chance to show what they were capable of. I needed to know I wasn’t alone. Now I want to add my own story, for anyone also grieving a competition, a season, or career that didn’t unfold the way they imagined.Despite everything, I’m determined to look back on these five years with pride. Although it stings to fall short of what I knew I was capable of, I know I did everything I could.And I’m not done believing in myself.With 6 months of rehab ahead, this setback has only reignited my determination to come back stronger. Body willing, I’ll give everything I have to make it back.Until then, it’s time to heal ❤️‍🩹 by @tesstapleton

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23 days ago

ACC RUNNER-UP! 🥈Tess Stapleton clocks her second career-best of the weekend, finishing second in the 400m hurdles with a 55.54!She remains the No. 2 performer in program history in the event!#GoStanford by @tesstapleton

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2 months ago

lost files from Europe by @tesstapleton

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3 months ago

For the first time since @thekorimonster, a Stanford hurdler has threatened one of the world champion’s school records! @tesstapleton ran the 60 hurdles in a PB of 8.22 in placing second at the MLK Invite on Saturday to move within 0.05 of Kori’s 2013 record!#GoStanford by @tesstapleton

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2 years ago

a weekend well spent by @tesstapleton

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2 years ago

hold please… PAC 12s is calling 📞. #conferenceweek by @tesstapleton

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2 years ago

🤍 by @tesstapleton

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2 years ago

How’s this for a PB? @tesstapleton ran the 100 hurdles in 13.59 at the Hornet Invite after coming in with a best of 14.10! In her first collegiate 100 hurdles, Tess jumped to No. 5 on Stanford’s all-time list, while placing third and continuing the momentum she picked up in the indoor season. Oh yeah … and she won the long jump (19-5 1/2, 5.93)!#GoStanford by @tesstapleton

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2 years ago

my favorite visitor by @tesstapleton

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2 years ago

happy (late) big game/halloween/club nu/oktoberfest! by @tesstapleton

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3 years ago

collection of my favorite days from summer 🤧 by @tesstapleton

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3 years ago

comeback season by @tesstapleton

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3 years ago