Karissa Schweizer's Parents

Karissa Schweizer of Urbandale, Iowa, United States, is making her second Olympic appearance with the USA women’s track and field team in 2024. She started in the sport at Dowling Catholic High School, where she became the IAHSAA All-State athlete 12 times in her high school career. Moving on, she joined the University of Missouri and was a member of the Missouri Tigers women’s track and field team. She was the NCAA Indoor National Champion in 5000m and 3000m runs in 2018. She was also the NCAA Outdoor National Champion in the 5000m run in 2018.

Karissa Schweizer made her World Championship debut in 2019 when she finished eighth in the women’s Team Cross Country Long Distance event. Following this, she made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2020. There, she finished 11th in the women’s 5000m Run and 12th in the women’s 10000m run events. More recently, she ranked ninth in the women’s 10000m run event and 15th in the women’s 5000m run event at the World Championships in 2022.

Karissa Schweizer's Parents

Karissa Schweizer is the daughter of Mike and Kathy Schweizer. Notably, she comes from a track and field athlete family, with her grandfather, Frank Schweizer, also being an athlete, as per desmoinesregister.com. She is also a third-generation track and field herself as per ksdk.com.

Who is Karissa Schweizer’s Mother?

Kathy Schweizer is the mother of Karissa Schweizer. Previously known as Kathy Petricka, she is a former runner for the Minnesota State Mavericks at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has also coached as per desmoinesregister.com. It was there she met her future husband, Mike Schweizer, and they eventually married.

Notably, Kathy Schweizer’s nephew is former MLB player Jake Petricka as per desmoinesregister.com.

Who is Karissa Schweizer’s Father?

Mike Schweizer is the father of Karissa Schweizer. He is a former cross country and track and field runner for the Minnesota State Mavericks at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He earned All-American honors three times during his college career as per msumavericks.com. His 1988 team won the conference and regional titles and also tied for the national championship. However, he followed that up by winning NCC outdoor championships in the 5000m event and 1000m event in 1989 as per msumavericks.com.

Notably, he met his future wife Kathy Schweizer (nee Petricka) at college and later married her.