Olympian Erin Hamlin to run New York City Marathon

Erin Hamlin may have retired following her fourth Olympic appearance earlier this year, but she isn’t done competing by any means.

Hamlin announced on Wednesday that she will run in the New York City Marathon in November, her first marathon ever, on behalf of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

“Being challenged in sport is something I am very familiar with,” Hamlin wrote in an email on Wednesday. “Long distance running is something I most certainly am not!! It will be difficult, mentally and physically daunting, but a way to test my abilities in a sport so far out of my comfort zone. So naturally I am pretty excited.”

Hamlin carried the flag for Team USA at the Opening Ceremony at the Olympics in February in PyeongChang, South Korea, and became the first American to medal in a single luge competition when she won the bronze medal in 2014. The 31-year-old took sixth in South Korea, and finished seventh overall last season in the World Cup standings.

Hamlin said she hopes to raise more than $8,000 for the Women’s Sports Foundation before the marathon, which was founded by Billie Jean King in 1974 and is “dedicated to creating leaders by ensuring all girls have access to sports.”

“Being a part of TeamWSF to raise funds and awareness is something near and dear to my heart,” Hamlin wrote. “I am thrilled to go out there and run for those women and girls that were never able to participate, and to encourage others to keep the trends of girls’ participation in sports going the right way. I can attribute the bulk of my maturation as a person, professionalism in corporate settings, and skills as a public speaker to my time spent as an athlete.”

The New York City Marathon will take place on November 4.

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