Another SMU alum headed to Rio for 2016 Olympics

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Lovisa Lindh Named To Swedish Olympic Track & Field Team

STOCKHOLM (SMU) – Lovisa Lindh (Ytterby, Sweden) summer continues to get better as she has been named to the 2016 Swedish Olympic Track & Field Team, as announced by the Swedish Olympic Committee on Wednesday.

The SMU alum will represent Sweden in track & field competition from Aug. 12-21 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

"I couldn't be more excited for her and it couldn't have happened to a better person. She has worked so hard and dedicated her life to running and being the best athlete she could be," SMU Track & Field Head Coach Cathy Casey said.

The month of July has been very exciting for Lindh. The former SMU track and field standout got the perfect birthday gift last weekend after placing third in the 800 meters final at the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, which gave her the Olympic qualifying time.

Lindh earned the bronze medal with a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 00.37 seconds, breaking her previous personal-best time (2:00.51) set earlier this season.

The Swedish middle-distance runner has shown much improvement since the European Athletics Championships in Zurich two years ago. She advanced to the semifinals but placed sixth (2:02.60) in her heat to finish 12th overall.

However, Lindh did not get discouraged and has continued to compete at a high level and has shown a level of consistency over the past two years that has helped her reach her first Olympics.

"She never stopped believing that she could get to the Olympics and it really is a true testament that hard work and always believing in your dreams does pay off," said Casey.