runner graham blanks '25 spoke about his experience earning a New Balance sponsorship in the November-December feature "The End of the Ivy League?" Harvard Magazine asked the economics and philosophy concentrator from Athens, Georgia, who placed ninth in the 5,000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, to share more about his academic and athletic experience at Harvard.
What's your favorite part of running?
My favorite part of running is getting to compete. I love the feeling I get when performing in front of a crowd and to be curious about what you can achieve, and then to give your best effort to achieve it.
What's your best moment related to running?
My favorite moment related to running is when myself and my two other teammates, Acer Iverson and Matthew Pereira, achieved All-American status at the 2022 NCAA championships. There's no better feeling than achieving your goals alongside those who you've worked so hard with.
What's your daily inspiration?
My daily inspiration is to make the most out of the day I have at hand. Four years at Harvard, in some regards, is not a very long time. And to be given such a great opportunity to compete for and study at this school, I want to make the most of that opportunity each and every day.
What are you writing your thesis about?
I'm writing my thesis about the bicycle as a commuter substitute for the MBTA Red Line. I became interested in this project when my preferences for travel shifted after the MBTA implemented numerous slow zones between Harvard and Boston. I found myself opting to commute on my bike long distances, rather than depend on a slow and unreliable system, and had a hunch that others were doing the same.
What's the craziest thing you saw at the Olympics?
The craziest things I saw at the Olympics were the crowds and atmospheres of the games. Competing in a preliminary round on a Wednesday morning in front of 80,000 people is not something track runners are used to. To race in such an incredible atmosphere makes the struggles of being an athlete all the more worth it.
