January 4, 2024

Talia Green knows what she wants in life, even though she’s still in high school. The American racewalker is dedicated to becoming an Olympian. And the EcoAthletes Champion is also committed to doing what she can to make a difference on climate action. Both passions are long standing for the 17-year-old Green, with track coming first.

“Both of my parents ran track and cross-country,” she shared. “I remember running around at the track in Piedmont, California for fun with them when I was four or five. I joined a track club at nine and went to meets where they had racewalking — it was always the first event. My coach entered me as a joke, but a teammate raced for me because I’d never done it before. Then my mom showed me a race-walking video when I was 11. I thought I’d try it just for the heck of it.”

A perfectionist, Green was not afraid of the sport’s intricacies, like being penalized by judges for not keeping one foot touching the ground at all times. And her talent allowed her to progress quickly. She qualified for the Junior Olympics at 11, coming in a solid 16th in the 11-12 age group in the 1.5km race.

That was just the beginning for the competitive Green.

“My mom really got into my training,” she recalled. “She got in touch with one of the best racewalking coaches in the world, Dave McGovern. I went to a clinic. He recorded me, analyzed my form. I loved the teaching and learning how to do better on the technical, speed, and endurance aspects. And I loved getting funny looks from people on the street as I trained — racewalking is not something you see too often — it really motivated me. The next year, I shaved two minutes off my time and came in second.”

Green adjusted well to the distance doubling to 3K at the 13-14 level, earning another 2nd place finish at Junior Olympics when she was 13. COVID and a bout with anemia short circuited her 14-year-old season. Once she recovered her health, Green’s performance on the track snapped back.

And then some.

“I competed at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward Field, the mecca of track and field in the USA when I was 15 against high schoolers from all over the country,” gushed Green. “I came in second, which was incredible. I sent my race clips to Coach McGovern, who would tweak my form. It was during this time that I began to think I could be an elite racewalker.”

She proved that her instincts were spot on in her 16-year-old campaign, winning the Nike race and coming in second by only two seconds in a 10K U20 race, meeting the qualifying standards for the 2022 World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

“I also ran cross-country and that helped me excel at the longer race-walking distance,” she acknowledged. “The U20 Worlds in Cali were surreal. It was very humid and at high altitude, so the field was slower. I came in 28th against the world’s top young racewalkers. This gave me the confidence that I truly belonged.”

Those strong ’22 performances set her up for a big 2023, with the U20 Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico the year’s big prize. After having to pull out of the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals due to a hip injury, making Pan Ams was no slam dunk. But Green’s focus on her rehab, cross training with running and biking, in addition to some smart racing, helped her qualify. She came in 4th place under hot, humid, conditions., despite the early 6 AM race time. Green’s eyes are now firmly set on qualifying for this year’s US Olympic Trials in June and the 2024 Paris Games, with LA 2028 the target when it comes to going for gold.

Racewalking factored into Green’s calculus when it comes to her college choice. She’ll be attending Harvey Mudd College located in Claremont, California this fall. Green was recruited for distance running and will continue racewalk training during the offseason (racewalking is not an NCAA sport).

Green’s interest in climate action predates her racewalking career. At seven, she gravitated to watching environmental videos on her iPad. Later, she worked on greening her parents, pushing them to get rid of zip-lock bags and other plastic products. Climate and the environment also played a key role in her Bat Mitzvah when she was 13.

“My service project focused on water conservation and cleanliness,” she offered. “I helped clean up three waterways. My Bat Mitzvah speech centered on the importance of water in the Torah. Then in high school, I’ve really enjoyed speaking publicly about the need for climate action through our Green Team.”

Becoming an EcoAthletes Champion is a logical next step for the high school senior.

“I am really excited to join an organization that will help me fuse two prominent yet separate parts of my life, sports and climate,” asserted Green. “My sport is intimately connected to the climate — the 2021 Olympic race walk was moved from Tokyo to Sapporo 300 miles to the north because of concerns about extreme heat, and then it was extremely hot in Sapporo anyway. I can’t wait to, once I get to college, use my platform as a student-athlete to engage fans to take and demand climate action!”  

EcoAthletes founder and CEO Lew Blaustein is certain that Green will succeed.

“Racewalking, like the climate fight, is a long-distance struggle that demands persistence and fighting through obstacles,” Blaustein opined. “Talia, an ascendant athlete, and climate advocate is well-suited to both. She will be a key player in the #ClimateComeback, no doubt about it.”

You can follow Talia on Instagram