08 Jan USATF Foundation Awards Maternity Grant to Abbey Cooper (D’Agostino)
PITTSBURGH, PA – The USATF Foundation continues its commitment to supporting athlete-mothers in their return to competition by awarding a $5,000 Maternity Grant to Olympian Abbey Cooper (D’Agostino).
Abbey Cooper, sponsored by New Balance, has made significant stride in the world of distance running, notably representing the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics in the 5,000m and serving as the alternate for Tokyo after an impressive fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials in the 5,000m. She ran a personal record-setting 5,000m run of 14:52.37 at the Prefontaine Classic in 2021, which ranked her 5th in the nation that year. Cooper and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world earlier this year in January, and now she embraces the role of a mother to an 11-month-old baby girl.
“I am deeply thankful to the USATF Foundation for their generous support during this transformative period in my life. This grant will assist in managing the associated costs of pregnancy and postpartum care, allowing me to dedicate myself fully to both my new role as a mother and my athletic training as I prepare for future competitions,” says Cooper.
Beyond her Olympic pursuits, Cooper holds an impressive collegiate legacy, being a seven-time D1 NCAA champion and making history as the first Ivy League athlete, male or female, to secure an NCAA Cross Country National Championship. Abbey was also the first female distance runner at Dartmouth College to claim an NCAA title.
The USATF Foundation Maternity Grant provides the financial stability needed for athletes to focus on their own health and recovery as they transition back into competition. This support ensures that athletes with the potential to represent Team USA are given opportunities to flourish both on and off the track.
The USATF Foundation is currently accepting Maternity Grant applications at www.usatffoundation.org for pregnant mothers or those recovering from childbirth up to 12 months post-birth.