Dowling alumnus Karissa Schweizer overcomes injuries to secure Olympic spot

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Karissa Schweizer was finally able to let out the emotions she had been pent up for years when she crossed the finish line of the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon in June.

Schweizer had already qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris with a stunning performance in the 5,000 meters earlier in the week. Yet it was only after she had completed her second race of the week that she could look back on her journey and all the trials and hardships she had endured to get back on the track.

“After the 10K was over, I thought, ‘Wow, this is really crazy to think about what I’ve been through the last three years and now I’m back on both teams,’” Schweizer said.

Even after all she’s been through, Schweizer, an Urbandale native and former star runner at Dowling Catholic, is heading back to the Olympics for the second time in her illustrious career. She’s healthy, happy and hopefully better than ever. But she’s clearly enjoying the journey to this one more than the first time around, after dealing with injuries in recent years that kept her from competing and even made her consider quitting.

“It’s pretty incredible,” said her mother, Kathy Schweizer. “I knew she was tough, but she’s blown us all away with how she’s come back.”

More: Iowa Olympian Karissa Schweizer’s pre-run routine includes a special twist: a conversation with her grandfather

Karissa Schweizer has been making waves for years as a state champion at Dowling Catholic and a national champion at Missouri. She turned pro after her college career and has further established herself as one of the nation’s top distance runners.

Perhaps her greatest moments came when Schweizer qualified for the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the 2020 Olympics (which were moved to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). She finished 11the in the 5,000 and 12e in the 10,000 at the Tokyo Olympics. That’s when Schweizer’s health problems began.

Schweizer thought she had a nasty injury during the Olympics, but discovered she had injured her Achilles tendon. Not long after the Olympics, she underwent a Haglund operation, a surgery that can repair tendon damage. A year later, she tore her calf. In the fall of 2023, she underwent another Haglund operation. Schweizer also suffered a major setback due to a stress reaction.

The injuries took their toll on Schweizer, who was unsure if she would ever be the runner she once was. She discussed retirement with many people, including her boyfriend Kellen Manley and family members. Schweizer admits that at times she almost considered hanging up her boots.

“I think I thought that in my head, but every time I told (Manley) he was like, ‘No, you just have to keep this up,’” Schweizer recalled.

Kathy Schweizer went to Oregon to visit her daughter. She remembers how down Karissa was.

“Another injury might bring her back to the question, ‘How can I keep doing this if I don’t get a break?’” Kathy Schweizer said.

Schweizer persevered, with the support of her boyfriend, mother, father Mike, and siblings Kelsey and Ryan. She was able to regain her form at the right time during this year’s Olympic Trials. Schweizer looked like her old self again, running a season-best time of 14:45.12 to finish third in the women’s 5,000 meters. She also finished third in the 10,000 meters with a time of 31:41.56 to once again secure a spot in both events at the Olympics.

The return journey will be extra worthwhile for Schweizer, after everything she has been through.

“It’s a relief that after such a busy race weekend I can run the next day without limping,” said Schweizer.

Schweizer’s family was unable to attend the last Olympic Games in Tokyo due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attending the Games has been on Mike and Kathy Schweizer’s bucket list since they got married. They’ve always wanted to go as fans. So much so that Kathy once gave Karissa an Olympic Barbie doll as a gift when her daughter was little.

They never expected one of their children to compete in the Olympics. After Karissa Schweizer made her return to the track this season, the couple didn’t even buy tickets to Paris for fear of jinxing her.

“We couldn’t take that risk,” said Kathy Schweizer.

Things are looking good for the family now. Schweizer is healthy and hoping to improve on both of her previous finishes from her first Olympics. In many ways, it’s already a huge victory for her to come back.

“She’s a tough lady, that’s for sure,” Kathy Schweizer said. “And we’re really proud of her.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports writer and reporter, has been with the paper since 2008. He is the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at [email protected] or 515-284-8468.

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