Gemma Stamatopoulos '26 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, I always enjoyed running with my family and training with my parents when they had races. When I began running track, I instantaneously grew a love for the sport and knew I wanted to continue my track and field career at the collegiate level. Both as a student and an athlete, I am driven to be the best version of myself that I can be. In school, I strive to excel in my classes. On the track, I am always hungry to be better than I was the day before. I’ve found that track has taught me so many valuable lessons, one being persistence. Understanding that you may not perform the way you want or expect to is important but what is critical is how you respond to it. Having the ability to turn bad performances into motivation to improve and put in 110% effort rather than giving up on yourself shows perseverance, passion, and dedication. Learning persistence on the track has encouraged me to constantly aim for better and to go the extra mile to overcome challenges in numerous situations, not just athletically. Besides a tenacious attitude, I believe that another key factor in succeeding is being coachable. This means that you can listen to critiques, be optimistic about them, and then be willing to apply the feedback that you are given. Genuinely thinking about the feedback that I’m given and being willing to step out of my comfort zone at times has helped me grow so much as an athlete and a person.