Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Wineberg to Address December UC Graduates and Receive Award for Excellence

Mary Wineberg, the 2008 Olympic 4x400-meter relay gold medalist whose “late bloomer” victory of accomplishing a dream inspired the Tristate and the nation, will deliver the address at the University of Cincinnati December Commencement Ceremony. Wineberg will also receive the UC Award for Excellence, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the purposes and ideals of the university. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, in Fifth Third Arena. The processional of graduates begins at 9:30 a.m.

Wineberg says the theme of her Commencement address encourages students to appreciate their education and to focus on goal-setting for the future. She has experienced the success of that philosophy firsthand.

While she was a student at Walnut Hills High School, Wineberg qualified for the state track meet in the 400- meters but didn’t advance to the finals. While at UC, she set the record for the 400-meter indoor/outdoor dash and was the 2002 Conference USA runner-up in the indoor and outdoor 400-meters. She graduated from UC in 2002 with a bachelor of science in education, emphasizing health promotions (exercise physiology).

Wineberg says that during her college years, she never imagined running on a professional level, but in 2003, she decided she wanted to make that her goal, “knowing it would require work, dedication and perseverance.” Her husband and former UC teammate, UC women’s track and field assistant coach Chris Wineberg, is also her training partner.

In addition to her gold medal, Wineberg was the 2007 third-place finisher at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, which earned her a spot at the IAAF Outdoor World Championships. In that meet, she came home with her first gold medal from an international competition. She was also the 2003 bronze medalist and 2006 silver medalist at the Indoor World Championships. She competed at the 2004 Olympic Trials, but did not advance to the finals.

“I realized that I needed a new focus. In retrospect, I was able to see what I needed to accomplish both mentally and physically in order to make the next team,” she says of her disappointment in 2004. At the age of 28, at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, her dream of winning the gold became a reality.

Wineberg is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and when she is not running, she serves as a churchtime teacher, mentor and a UC assistant coach. She belongs to a number of civic and philanthropy associations as she serves as a role model to young athletes.

UC Commencement Web Site