Florencia Hunt

Florencia Hunt ran the 800 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She ran in the US for college and continued competing for several years after her Olympic appearance. She was hoping to compete at the Olympics again at Beijing in 2008 but was diagnosed with a rare cancer in her pelvic area that was compressing the sciatic nerve. She had surgery to remove the tumor, although it could not be completely removed, because of its location, and the surgery caused her to lose function in her right leg, ending her running career.

Hunt was later treated with six years of chemotherapy and radiation therapy and regained function in her leg. During that time she began lifting weights to help recover her leg function and worked as a personal trainer. This led to a second competitive career as a bodybuilder in bikini fitness competitions. In 2016 she competed in her first bikini fitness event at the Border Klash and later that year she won the NPC figure competition at the New England 35+ division. She also won the OCB (Organization of Competitive Bodies) pro figure North Shore Natural event, and the 2017 International BFASM (Bodybuilding and Fitness Association of St. Martin) competition.

Hunt took 2018 off from competition to have two further surgeries. She continued to train, however, and returned to competition in 2019, winning the OCB Richmond Pro/Am in December 2019 in three categories – Pro Division, Open Overall, and her Open Class.

Personal Best: 800 – 2:03.16 (2001).