For Alexis Holmes, being an Olympian was always the goal. The Hamden, Connecticut native has been running since she was five and has always seen herself as a prominent Black woman in sports. Now, she’s gearing up for the biggest race of her life: the 2024 Paris Olympics. She enters our Zoom call with bubbly energy, sporting a soft glam and a smile as she relives the moment she saw she’d become the Olympian she wanted to be.
“Going into US trials, I knew what I wanted to do and believed that I was an Olympian who would be representing Team USA in Paris, so I was determined,” she tells GU. “When it came down to the final race, I gave it all that I had, and when I finished the race and saw my name on the screen, the feeling was surreal. You work all these days and months to get to that point so it felt like everything came together on the right day.”
As a standout talent in track and field during her time competing at the University of Kentucky, Holmes will contest in the 400m and 4x400m relay, aiming for gold in her first Olympic appearance. Holmes credits her success to her family, especially her grandfather, and draws inspiration from track legends Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross.
During her college career, she won two SEC championships in the 400-meter dash and claimed a national title in the same event. Her athletic success continued after graduation, earning high marks in her qualification for the Olympic team. From her public health background and personal experiences, Holmes advocates for mental health awareness in sports. “My journey hasn’t been without challenges,” she says. “I’ve learned that mental strength is just as crucial as physical ability.”
As she prepares for the global stage, Holmes embodies the dedication, versatility, and passion that define Olympic athletes while championing the importance of mental health in sports. GU caught up with the Zillennial to chat about all things Olympics, mental health and her secret weapon to maintaining her track and field beat.
Girls United: How have you prepared mentally for this competition and representing Team USA?
Alexis Holmes: The biggest thing for me has been taking things day by day. I don’t like to think too far ahead, so I’ve just been trying to take care of my body and my mental health and taking time for myself to decompress. Also, I’ve been staying off social media because people like to post predictions around big sporting events, and sometimes, it can get into your head.
GU: How important is it for athletes to set a boundary between themselves and social media when large events like the Olympics begin?
AH: It’s really important to make sure you’re not getting overly anxious or putting other people’s doubts and predictions onto your own self-image. For me, making sure that I’m staying away from social media gives me space to create my own narratives on what my goals are.
GU: With your background in public health, how are you continuing to balance your mental and physical health?
AH: Public health applies to anything, and mental health is big for me. I’m someone who has openly struggled with anxiety and depression, and I think specifically being an athlete and being in sports is not talked about enough. Since a young age, we’re taught that you have to be mentally strong, and I think people confuse that with not being vulnerable or human, so it’s important that we create space for athletes to have these emotions and anxieties and still be able to compete at the highest levels.
GU: How would you say your support system has helped champion you through this entire experience?
AH: Having a solid support system is extremely important. For me, it’s my family, coach and women I train with that have helped carry me through this because it’s not easy. It’s a lot of long days and can be physically and emotionally draining. Having people there to lift, encourage and speak life into you is important, especially when things don’t go your way. In sports, you’re not always going to have the perfect race or perfect workout, so it’s even more important on those days.
GU: Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines that help you get into the right mindset before a race?
AH: For me, it’s listening to music and doing my makeup because that’s my time to feel good about myself and mentally prepare for what I want to do for the day, so getting dolled up is a part of my [routine] and being like ‘okay I look good, so I feel good.’
GU: We’re seeing a rise in Black girls expressing themselves through their makeup and hair in sports. What is it like to see that intersection of sports and beauty during this time?
AH: I love the intersection. When you look good, you feel good about yourself and feel confident. You’ll take that into your race or game. It also gives room for individuality when it comes to your looks and what makes you feel good.
GU: What are the top three products you must have for your race?
AH: I swear by Fenty products, especially for my base routine. People always ask me, ‘How does your makeup stay so nice after running a 400-meter race?’ It’s the Urban Decay setting spray, and it never fails me.
GU: How are you balancing the pressure of competing on such a grand stage with enjoying the experience of being at the Olympics?
AH: I would say just being in the moment. I’ve already told myself, ‘When you get to Paris, just make sure you’re taking in every moment.’ You’re only going to experience your first Olympics one time, and sometimes, I have a habit of getting caught up and not living in the moment. This is an amazing accomplishment, and I want to take it all in for what it is.
GU: What advice would you give aspiring athletes who dream of competing in the Olympics?
AH: Continue to work hard; believing in yourself is the biggest piece of it. People have told me since I was young, ‘You’re gonna be great one day’ or ‘You’re so talented,’ but it wasn’t until I started telling myself that I started to believe that I started seeing things coming to fruition more.
About the Author: Kenyatta Victoria is the lead writer for Essence GU, working on all things pop culture, politics, entertainment and business. Throughout her time at GU, she’s garnered devoted readers and specializes in the Zillennial point of view.