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Battle’s journey to becoming an Olympian

By Sarah Shurge and it seems like every week I'm
Anavia Battle is now an interna- doing interviews. It's been hard but
tional name. it’s given me a chance to get out of
At the age of 22, Battle made her my box. It’s giving me a lot of expo-
first U.S. team, which just so hap- sure,” said Battle. “It’s nice to do this
pened to be the U.S. Olympic team. for other people, for myself, and for
On Saturday, June 26th, Battle other little girls so they can see you
qualified for the U.S. Olympic team can do what you want if you put your
after placing third in the 200-meter mind to it and put the work in.”
dash at the Olympic Trials with a More and more people began rec-
time of 21.95 seconds. ognizing Anavia Battle’s name.
The time was a personal best for “Especially with social media. I
Battle and made her the fifth fastest got 3,000 followers in one night and
woman in the world for the 200 me- I’m verified on Twitter now,” said Bat-
ters this year before the Olympics. tle.
Battle has always been a fast run- And now people are putting a face
ner, but there was a time when she to the name.
didn’t truly utilize her talent. “When I’m walking on campus I’m
Her track career began in 7th so used to people not saying any-
grade at Franklin Middle School. thing to me. Now I go into stores and
She continued running track in high people say congrats and ask for pic-
school at Wayne Memorial, and even tures with me,” said Battle.
though she won all of her races, she But Battle isn’t letting anything
didn’t take it seriously. get to her.
“My grandma always told me if “I avoid having the light on me. I
I'm going to do something, be the don't like to get treated any differ-
best at it. Back then I didn't really ently. My friends still treat me the
take that in. I was just running to same. They celebrated me after the
have an extracurricular activity,” said trials, now it's back to business, and
Battle. then they’ll celebrate me when I get
However, her junior year of high back home,” said Battle.
school, Battle began taking track se- The Olympics began Friday, July
riously. This came with the help of 23rd, and end Sunday, August 8th.
her coach, Jamal Johnson. Wayne Memorial Alumni and Ohio State NCAA Champion Anavia Battle in Tokyo Battle’s flight left for Japan on
“He would push me and said I Japan as part of the U.S. Olympic team. July 24th and arrived in Tokyo on
had talent that I didn't see,” said Bat- the 25th.
tle. the fastest collegiate athlete of all “Society says coming from a black Due to COVID-19, Tokyo is not
Once Battle realized how good time for the 200m. American single-parent home, my accepting fans in the stands during
she was at the sport and how she Battle is a senior at Ohio State children were not supposed to suc- the Olympics. To compensate for
liked the feeling of winning, her men- majoring in Human Development ceed. I’m proud to say they beat the this, USA Track & Field supplied
tality changed. and Family Science. She is graduat- odds. Look at where they are today,” Battle with two tickets for a watch
“I always won races. But rather ing this month with the goal of be- said Booze-Battle. party in Orlando, Florida. She gave
than ‘athlete versus athlete,’ it coming a first grade teacher, and Battle isn’t the only runner in her the tickets to her mom and Montel.
started being ‘athlete versus the plans on getting her master’s degree family. “I still feel like this is a dream. Re-
clock,’” said Battle. in Education Administration and be- Montel ran track for Mississippi ality probably won't hit me until I
Battle went on to run track for coming a principal or superinten- State University and her granddad, meet up with Montel in Orlando and
Ohio State University and created a dent. Clyde Battle, ran track in high school we sit down and watch the race to-
name for herself. Aside from having a career, she and college. Her granddad has been gether,” said Booze-Battle. “I am be-
Throughout her time at OSU, she also plans on becoming a pro athlete. a big influence in her life by always yond excited to be watching one of
has won seven individual Big Ten “I’m glad I didn't take it [track] se- being there for her and giving advice my four success stories unfold in
Conference titles and won multiple riously in the beginning. Some peo- before a run and asking questions af- front of the whole world.”
Big Ten outdoor championships and ple play a sport so long they hate it,” terwards. Battle ran August 1st and 2nd in
individual titles. Four times she was said Battle. “I’ve put so much into Having a shy personality, Battle the Olympics.
named Big Ten’s track athlete of the this. I have nothing but love for this noticed a change in people’s attitude Sunday night she finished second
year/of the championship. sport. It’s taken me places I didn't towards her almost immediately in her heat (and eighth overall) with
She broke multiple Ohio State know I could go and opened so many after the Olympic Trials in Oregon. a time of 22.54 and advanced to the
school records such as the outdoor doors.” “I was walking through the air- semifinals. For her semifinal on Mon-
200 meters with a time of 22.28 and Battle grew up in Inkster as the port coming from the trials and had day, she finished sixth in her heat
the indoor 200 meters with a time of youngest of four children in a single- to sign a girl’s boarding pass,” said with a time of 23.02 and did not
22.66. She also set the Big Ten in- parent household. She’s very close Battle. qualify for the 200m finals.
door championships record in the with her mother Antoinette Booze- Then the press began reaching Overall, she finished 16th in the
200 with a time of 22.75 in 2019. Battle, sister Mintoria, and two out to her for interviews. semifinals of the 200-meter dash at
With the time of 21.95, Battle is brothers, Antoine and Montel. “I don’t like talking about myself the Tokyo Olympics.
The Wayne Dispatch · August 2021 · 13