"This year has just been so, so hard" - Anna Hall reflects navigating through an injury-ridden year after qualifying for the Paris Olympics

Anna Hall recently reflected on her injury-ridden year after clinching an Olympic spot to compete in the heptathlon event at the 2024 U.S. Olympics Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Hall secured her first Olympic berth in 2024 after missing out on the opportunity at the last trials due to an injury.

The American heptathlete scored a stunning total of 6614 points to dominate the lineup over Chari Hawkins and Taliyah Brooks, who scored 6456 and 6408 points, respectively. In a training session ahead of the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Hall suffered a serious injury.

She endured a knee injury including a PCL and bone bruise while training on the long jump board. In an interview with Citius Mag following her recent feat at the Olympic Trials, she looked back on the year marred by injury and acknowledged the hardships.

"This year has just been like so, so hard and I think my coaches and those around me can attest to that," Hall said. "There were a lot of days where I was like, ‘Track’s not fun anymore. Like is this worth it? I don’t think this is going to work. I feel like the emotions coming from there to be like, ‘Wow, we really did this’ just all flooded out of me.”

"I came back with fire in my belly" - Anna Hall on making a comeback ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics

Anna Hall celebrates after winning heptathlon gold at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Getty Images)

Anna Hall missed the Olympic qualification standards at the 2021 Trials after stumbling on the eighth obstacle in the 100m hurdles, injuring her navicular bone on the left foot.

Further, the American athlete narrowly missed out on collecting 7000 points in Gotzis in 2023 after bagging 6899 points, and despite suffering a knee injury she secured a silver medal at the 2023 WAC.

In an interview with Team USA, Hall stated that she returned with a new sense of passion and determination for the Olympic year.

"In 2021, I got told no," Hall said. "I came back with fire in my belly in 2022 and exceeded expectations. In 2023, I feel like I got told no again. Indoors, I was really close to the world record and didn’t get it. Really close to 7,000 points in Götzis (Austria) and didn’t get it. Really close to gold in Budapest and didn’t get it."

Anna Hall will be seen competing in Paris in the heptathlon events, scheduled to begin from August 8, 2024.