"My heart dropped to my stomach" - Paris Olympian & 2024 NCAA champ McKenzie Long opens up on moment she learned of her mother's death

With a long list of achievements, McKenzie Long has become one of the major talents in track and field. She came seventh in the 200m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In an appearance last week on the “Ready Set Go” podcast with Rodney Green and retired Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin, Long talked about the loss of her mother in February 2024 and dealing with the aftermath.

“When my mom passed away, it was very unexpected and that instantly just became like another fuel to what I'm about to do and who I'm doing this for. My stepdad called and I was like, 'Hold on, I'll call you back,' and he immediately was like, 'I'm so sorry, she's gone,' and then I was like, 'Huh?'" McKenzie Long said. [14:34]

I was confused and then he was like, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I don't want to tell you this over the phone.' And I immediately got that feeling whenever your heart just like drops, my heart dropped to my stomach and I was just screaming. I was like, 'No, no no,' and then luckily he was there to comfort me, yeah. But it was just a moment where I honestly just keep it in the back of my head because I don't want to think about that all the time.”

Long attended North Carolina State University and set the state record in the women's 200m sprint by clocking 23 seconds. Her personal best is 21.83s set in June 2024. She returned post-recovery after missing the 2021 and 2022 indoor and outdoor seasons due to a hip injury. She won the 2023 SEC Championship while attending the University of Mississippi.

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McKenzie Long shares her thoughts on her tattoo journey and what’s the next ink for her

McKenzie Long at 2024 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship - Source: Getty

The three-time NCAA champion and a six-time SEC medallist, McKenzie Long also shed light on her tattoos and the most recent ink she got on her right leg during the above podcast.

“I think it was at practice I told everybody at the Olympics I'm getting a tattoo. Literally once I'm done, I got the rings, and I have my mom and I have her name on the back and it's all like kawaii theme and I have a phoenix right here,” McKenzie Long said. [48:10]

Long honored her mother through her tattoo and completed her latest in one sitting. She shared that the pain was “unbearable” but the Olympic athlete wanted it completed in one go.

Long has two other major tattoos and wishes to complete the one on her right arm. The holder of six school records also shared that because the process is “really really painful”, she is not considering any more tattoos in the future.