Support Cheyenne Nesbitt's Olympic Dream

Hi, my name is Cheyenne Nesbitt, and I’m asking for your help as I continue my journey to become a world-class track and field athlete. My story is one of perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and reaching for greatness. As I work toward my goal of competing in the Olympics, I am also making big personal sacrifices—and I’m hoping for your support to help me along the way.

Growing up, I was raised by my single mother, with the help of my grandmother. Life wasn’t easy, and I had to learn to overcome challenges early on. I became the first in my family to attend college, which was a huge milestone for me. Unfortunately, I suffered a major knee injury during my senior year of high school that required surgery and two years of rehab. But despite the pain, I fought my way back and returned to competition at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU).

During my time at SVSU, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and I am halfway through my Master of Public Administration. Through all of this, I relied on my athletic scholarship to cover living expenses, training, and more. Now that I’ve graduated, that financial support is gone, and I’m facing the reality of covering these costs on my own as I continue to pursue my Olympic dream.

Recently, I was offered an incredible opportunity to work as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Illinois. This position will allow me to not only advance my career but also continue training at an elite level to reach the Olympics. While I’m thrilled for this chance, it comes with sacrifices. I will be away from my husband, Brendan, and our dog, Chloe, while I pursue this goal. Brendan is incredibly supportive of this opportunity, but being apart will be difficult.

While I have been able to achieve significant success on the track, including 10 NCAA Division II National Championships and 17 All-America honors, the financial rewards have not followed. The cost of competing and training at the highest level is incredibly high, and without the income from my scholarship, the burden is even greater.

Why I Need Your Help

Transitioning to life post-graduation while pursuing a professional track career has been financially challenging. With no more scholarship support, I am relying on my husband’s position as a teacher to make ends meet. But it’s not enough to cover everything, especially with the demands of high-level training, travel, and recovery.

Your donation will help me cover:

- Living expenses as I transition to Illinois and focus on training.

- Rehabilitation and treatments to keep me healthy as I continue pushing my body.

- Dietary needs and nutritional support to stay in peak condition.

- Travel and competition costs for national and international meets.

What I've Accomplished So Far

Despite the setbacks, I’ve been fortunate to achieve great success in track and field. Some of my career highlights include:

- 10 NCAA Division II National Championships and 17 All-America honors.

- The first SVSU student-athlete to earn the GLIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and recipient of the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

- Two-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women’s Field Athlete of the Year.

- Winner of the pentathlon at the USA Track and Field Indoor Combined Events Championship, setting a new NCAA Division II Indoor record with 4,475 points.

- Made history at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships by becoming the first woman in NCAA history to win four consecutive heptathlon titles, finishing with a school record of 6,002 points.

- Competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, finishing 11th in the heptathlon, and went on to represent Team USA at the Thorpe Cup in Germany in July.

Though this journey is tough, I’m more determined than ever to reach the Olympics. Balancing a new coaching career, my master’s degree, and training is no easy task, but I know with your support I can get there. I’ve dedicated myself to this dream for years, and I hope to inspire others, especially young athletes, along the way.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story. Your support—whether through a donation, sharing this campaign, or sending words of encouragement—means everything to me.

With gratitude,

Cheyenne Nesbitt