NC State alumna on the fast track to the Olympics

By Lora Lavigne, WRAL reporter

Raleigh, N.C. — A North Carolina State University alumna is now on the fast track to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Gabbi Cunningham was added to the U.S. track team after Brianna McNeal lost her appeal against a five-year ban for breaking anti-doping rules.

Cunningham, who ran her personal best in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles at the Olympic trials, leaves in about two weeks for Tokyo.

Cunningham spent countless hours on the track during her collegiate career at N.C. State. She competed on the Wolfpack from 2015 to 2019, and is the first graduate of N.C. State’s track and field program to become an Olympian.

She said it’s a perfect example of when preparation meets opportunity.

Cunningham always had the drive and the passion, according to assistant sprints and hurdles coach at N.C. State Allen Johnson.

“She came to me one day and said, ‘Coach, I want to do this at the professional level,’ and I was like, ‘OK, let’s start working really hard at it,’” said Johnson.

She never stopped working. Even in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic put everything on pause, she kept running.

“I was just really excited for everything to come around in full circle,” said Cunningham, who added that she teared up when she got the life-changing call on July 2.

“All of this hard work that I’ve been putting in, the training, even with the COVID year, is paying off,” she added.

Now she’s back on the same track that helped shape her career with the same coach, who was also an Olympic athlete.

“It’s rewarding to know that all the summers that we’ve spent out here on this track, every summer working just trying to get a little bit better, it being 100 degrees, dripping sweat and knowing that it’s paying off,” added Johnson.

Cunningham won’t have the traditional Olympic experience with fans cheering in the stands due to Japan’s state of emergency.

“To not have that atmosphere and that experience, it definitely kind of feels like it’s kind of taking away from it, but I know that everyone will be cheering at home,” she said.

Cunningham's competed in hundreds of meets, run thousands of miles in her 10-year career and overcome many obstacles.

“Taking each practice and going harder and harder, I mean, the sky is the limit. So, being able to push myself as far as I can go to one day hopefully break the world record, that’s what I’m shooting for,” she said.

“She doesn’t quit. She just does not quit. No matter what if it’s a good day or a bad day, she keeps working,” said Johnson.

Cunningham said this is a moment she won’t take for granted, and she hopes to inspire other young woman to never give up.

“A lot of times, I didn’t see the success that I wanted to, but I never gave up, and I just kept going and kept pushing. And so, to finally come around and be able to make the Olympic Team just lets you know that, if you keep going for your dreams and you keep pushing – you just don’t give up – that it is achievable,” said Cunningham.