Courage vs. Cancer: The Empowering Story of Olympic Athlete, Gabriele Grunewald

Geannette Wittendorf is a proud supporter and fan of the Olympics. She is incredibly inspired by the courageous efforts of Olympian Gabriele Grunewald, who isn’t letting her battle with cancer keep her from running to victory.

Geannette Wittendorf
The Olympic games are always full of inspiration.  The victories, the ups and downs and the energy of the atmosphere is powerful enough to grip spectators in a motivational way.  What’s even more inspiring than the actual events are the incredible athletes who compete. Their backstories are often awe-inspiring, with many Olympians having overcome adversity in amazing ways.  In particular, Team USA’s middle-distance runner, Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald is an Olympian with a tremendous story of perseverance.

In 2009, Gabriele Grunewald was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland.  In 2010, with treatment for the condition under her belt, she crossed the 2010 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships finish line as national runner-up in the 1500 meter race.  This feat would prove habitual for Grunewald, who abandoned the idea of slowing down on her athletic dreams. In 2016, Grunewald was hit with another debilitating diagnosis: a cancerous tumor found in her liver.  But just like the first diagnosis, this news did not slow down the athlete. In spite of her health issues, she has proven triumphant in various road races and indoor and outdoor track events.

In more recent news, the cancer survivor and track and field hero is gearing up to represent Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics.  Now known for her courageous battle against her illnesses, the athlete now represents other individuals battling cancer with her organization, Brave Like Gabe.  The organization supports cancer research and the idea of continuing with one’s life, regardless of a diagnosis.  Brave Like Gabe hosts an annual 5K, an event which sees 100% of its raised funds donated to a rare cancer research grant.  Not only is Grunewald inspiring spectators in the stands, she’s empowering other individuals in their brave battles against cancer.  Fans of the Olympics are undoubtedly cheering her on as she trains hard to represent the United States in Tokyo at the 2020 Olympic games.

Connect with Geannette Wittendorf on Crunchbase to learn more about her community and volunteer work as well as her passion for the Olympic Games.

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