Legion employee's daughter wins bronze at Olympics

Ashley Spencer added to the number of medals the United States has won during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Spencer, the daughter of an American Legion national staff employee, won a bronze medal in the women's 400-meter hurdles final Thursday evening. She ran a personal best 53.72.

Spencer, daughter of Demietrus from the Legion’s John H. Geiger Operations Center, knew she was an Olympic-caliber athlete when she won nationals in the 400-meter as a freshman at the University of Illinois. “I love track and I knew if I worked hard enough becoming an Olympian would be obtainable,” Spencer told The American Legion prior to leaving for the Olympics in Rio. She credits her success to “God and the amazing support I get from my family,” she said. “I have a wonderful coach, trainers, and small circle of friends that are so supportive.”

For her first Olympic experience, Spencer said she wanted to "feel like I did my best to represent my family and my country. Whatever the outcome, I made my first Olympic team at the age of 23 and in that I am blessed.”

The American Legion has been a longstanding member of the United States Olympic Committee, and holds its annual air rifle national competition at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.