Nikki Hiltz

2019 World Championship Finalist (1,500m), 2019 USATF One Mile Champion, 2020 Olympic hopeful

As a young, fast-rising star in track & field, Nikki Hiltz receives a stream of messages from young runners on social media.

Nikki's fan mail, however, is often different than the inquiries for training tips or racing advice that other pro runners receive.

Nikki is one of the few openly gay athletes in track and field. In 2019, Nikki made a fast start to her pro career, notching prestigious victories at the BAA Mile, the Boston Boost Games and the USATF Road Mile Championships, where she set a course record.

As her running career has taken off, Nikki has become a noteworthy role model in the LGBTQ community and a proud advocate of love. In advance of her appearance at the 2019 World Championships, Sports Illustrated profiled Nikki, noting "Nikki's performances and character on and off the track have made her one of U.S. track and field’s most visible stars ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo."

Nikki is here and she's bringing new awareness to US running. Get ready.

Athlete Profile:

• Date of birth: October 23, 1994

• Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA

• Residence: San Diego, CA

• Education: University of Arkansas (2018) Major: Sociology and Criminal Justice

• 800m PR: 2:01.37

• 1,500m PR: 4:01.52

• Twitter: @nikki_hiltz 3,000 followers

• Instagram: @nikkihiltz 20k followers

• Sponsorship: Adidas, IceeNOW

Celebrating Differences

Nikki has an important message that is relevant to young runners learning about themselves as well as mature audiences grappling with an increasingly fragmented world.

"It's not only OK to be different, but you can be both out and proud and chase your crazy dream," Nikki says.

Nikk's message is getting a lot of attention. She's become one of Adidas Running's most visible athletes and she's enjoyed features in ESPN, Runner's World and Sports Illustrated within her first year of turning pro.

Nikki's story demonstrates that harmony in a diverse world still exists and that each of us has space to be our true selves.