Less than 2% of student-athletes Track & Field has been the highlight of this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, France in August 2024. For Riley Simmons, the sport of track and field has continued to grow since she first started to run track during her freshman year in high school. Before participating in track & field, Simmons competed in gymnastics for 13 years. By the time high school arrived, Riley had participated in both basketball and track and field where she succeeded in both sports for Lakeranch Wood. While in high school, Simmons was a three-year starter for the basketball team and competed in Track & Field, where she was crowned the FHSAA State Champion in the shot put event and was runner-up in the discus event. Riley stated that Track & Field stuck with her after she fell in love with the weight room and becoming a strong woman. “This is when I realized I could throw something far and be successful in it,” Simmons stated. “I fell in love with the work needed to throw far and the throws just fell into place.”  By high school completion, Riley had committed to Mississippi State to begin her collegiate journey in Track & Field. However, Simmons would redshirt her freshmen year in college and soon transfer to Florida State. 

During her time at Florida State, Riley competed in the weight throw and the shot put in both the Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field events. During the Indoor Events, Simmons made her mark in multiple invitational meets including the Clemson Invitational as she finished sixth in the shot put. Riley would go on to compete in the Outdoor games in both the hammer throw and discus events where she was placed in the top ten in the hammer throw at both the FSU Relay placing seventh and the LSU Gold Alumni placing ninth. Simmons would be selected for the ACC All-Academics during her time with FSU.  After a year with Florida State, Riley entered the transfer portal and signed with the University of Memphis to continue her Track & Field career. In her first year with Memphis, Simmons dominated for the Tigers, secured 6th place at the AAC Championship for the Women’s Hammer event, and was recognized on the AAC All-Academic Team. 

When it comes to student-athletes, academics come before athletics, as they always strive to be the best on and off the field or court. With both Communications and Political Science majors underway, Riley states that balancing school and Track can be challenging but has gotten the groove of completing everything as all her classes for her majors are online. “The online classes are challenging but they allow me to finish my work before competitions and harder workouts so I don’t have to worry about academics when trying to focus on hard days on the track,” Simmons states. “It takes discipline to get the work done but once I got in my groove of getting the work done at the right times it has helped me a lot to be able to give track the extra hours needed to become great one day.” Riley sees the majors of her studies and that classes with her majors have helped her become a public speaker, learn professionalism in the workforce, and support her dreams of becoming a motivational speaker within sports. “I am also committed to becoming a sports motivational speaker and inspiring young athletes with my story and how to overcome adversities through sports and life. 

Track and Field brought so many views for this Summer Olympics as the United States secured 861 medals, including 358 gold medals. Some of the Track & Field Olympic winners who helped secure gold for the United States included Valarie Allman, Tara Davis-Woodwall, Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell, and many more. Riley sees the sport of Track & Field continue to grow, particularly the throwing aspect of the games as she describes the throwing events of Track & Field as unique and empowering and dreams of becoming a professional thrower and making an Olympic team. “I would love for more young athletes to know what the sport is and fall in love with it just like I did,” Simmons states. “Being a female in a very male-dominant sport gives me a sense of power that helps me take on many aspects of life that I would love for more females to experience.” 

To be an inspiration is to give hope to someone to continue to do what they love to do with their passion. Through advice, Riley advises those who want to take their talents to the college level: to embrace the process. “The process is long and hard as you will have setbacks,” Simmons describes. “You can’t let those setbacks damage your outlook on yourself as a person or athlete. Work hard, find your passion, take care of yourself (both physically and mentally), and remember to stay the course.”

Each person has a story that motivates one to spread inspiration. Riley’s story shows what staying the course means and finding your passion means. When asked what makes her story stand out, Simmons describes in detail her answer. “What makes me different is the impact that I want to have on people,” Simmonds explains. “I want to change the games of athletics not only because of my performance; but, because of my voice. I want to exemplify a leadership that people will use to better themselves and the mark that they will leave in athletics.”

To learn more about Riley and her journey, be sure to follow her on Instagram: riley.simmonsss