Grayson Murphy

A five-time All-American while at the University of Utah, Grayson Murphy found herself at the top of the podium as the world mountain running champion during her first year as a pro runner in 2019.

Then the 2020 World Championships was canceled due to Covid-19. 2021 was postponed until November 2022 but late that summer, a pinched nerve, which caused a paralysis-like feeling in her hips, led Murphy to withdraw from the race.

2023 was her comeback story. The four-time US mountain running champion first earned a bronze medal in the 7.5K vertical race. Three days later, Murphy crossed the finish line 57 seconds ahead of her competitors to pick up the gold medal in the 14K classic mountain race—making her the only two-time world champion in this event.