Olympian helps students at UC

CINCINNATI - An Olympic gold medalist in the Tri- State is pushing UC students to go for the gold. Mary Wineberg won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 meter relay four years ago in Bejing.

Now she's working as a volunteer assistant coach.

Wineberg said a lot of people were surprised when she tried out for the Olympics because she wasn't a top runner in high school. But she didn't let that stop her, and it paid off.

“And then they walk you out onto that stage, onto that podium and you're in front of 90,000 people. It was just an awesome feeling and being able to look up and see your American flag being raised and to hear your national anthem and say I'm a champion,” she said.

Wineberg says she didn't make the team this year because of an injury last year.

But she sees it as a blessing because her mother died three weeks ago and Wineberg says she might have missed seeing her that last time.

Wineberg plans to compete again soon, running in he world championships in honor of her mother.