If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA. To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.
American athlete Anna Hall has made a name for herself in track and field athletics, demonstrating resilience and mental fortitude throughout her career. Born on March 23, 2001, in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Hall's athletic journey began at age seven, competing in high jump and 1500m events. She later decided to compete in multi-events, following in her father's footsteps, a three-sport athlete at the University of Michigan.
Hall's career faced a significant setback just before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021. During the U.S. trials, she collided with a barrier in the women's 100-metre hurdles, breaking the navicular bone in her left foot. This injury required surgery and a prolonged recovery period, shattering her Olympic dreams for the year. However, Hall viewed this setback as an opportunity for growth, telling Olympics.com, "The injury was a really big inflexion point in my career."
Despite the setback, Hall transferred to the University of Florida ahead of the 2022 North American college season. She secured personal bests and claimed titles in pentathlon and heptathlon events, including breaking collegiate records, winning NCAA titles, and earning a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in 2022. At the 2023 U.S. Indoor Championships, she broke the North American pentathlon record with an impressive 5004 points and claimed the 400-metre title, setting a new personal best of 51.03 seconds.
Hall's journey was not without challenges. She faced body-shaming comments often targeted at muscular women. In a social media plea, Hall tackled the issue head-on, expressing her exhaustion and urging an end to the criticism. She shed light on the importance of recognizing and appreciating the physical achievements of female athletes without perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Hall's resilience was further tested when she suffered a complex knee injury requiring surgery in January 2024. Despite this, she triumphed at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in late June, finishing first in the heptathlon and qualifying for her first Olympic team. A triumph at Paris 2024 would not only represent a significant comeback but also serve as the best response to her critics and redemption for her first missed Olympic opportunity.
From exclusive NBC play-by-play action of Team USA to live hourly updates from the Games to original Summer Games podcasts, you can listen to the Olympics stream only on iHeartRadio. Find out more about how to listen.