UAlbany Hall of Famer Claxton Embraces Motherhood, Olympics

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 23, 2024) — Entering her second Olympic Games representing Puerto Rico, University at Albany alum Grace Claxton fondly remembers her time as a Great Dane. Eight years after competing in the 400m hurdles at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, much has changed for Claxton as she balances being a new mom with training for Paris.

Claxton, who earned a bachelor’s degree in public health with a minor in business in 2017, advanced to the semifinal round in 2016.

After training at UAlbany for the 2020 games in Tokyo, the San Juan, Puerto Rico native was unable to make the rescheduled event when the Olympics were postponed due to COVID-19.

Now she is gearing up for Paris at a training camp in Dijon, France. She might not be able to take the University with her, but Claxton is being supported by her long-time mentor and coach, UAlbany’s Director of Track and Field Roberto Vives, who is an assistant for the Puerto Rican national team.

It’s one the many ways that Claxton remains a Great Dane at heart.

“I felt attached to the University at Albany ever since my first visit in the spring 2012,” said Claxton.

Still, she needed to convince her family that the journey from Puerto Rico to Albany would be a positive one.

“At first my mom was nervous because I was her first child to attend university overseas,” said Claxton. “But she was also very supportive and encouraging as I was awarded a full scholarship, which has been truly a blessing.”

While she felt right at home in the Capital Region, there were a few differences between San Juan and Albany that could not be overlooked.

“My experience outside of track and school was very simple,” said Claxton. “If there was no class and I didn’t have track practice, I would stay home because Puerto Rican and snow don’t mix.”

In addition to Vives, Claxton is also thankful for the staff at the Office of Financial Aid, who helped her navigate the complexities of being a student from overseas on scholarship.

But it was undoubtedly her time as a member of the track and field team that left an indelible mark on Claxton.

“Being part of the track and field team has helped me have an open mind and have a better understanding that even though we are on the same team, and may have the same goal, everyone is different in their own way and that is the true beauty of this sport,” said Claxton.

Vives and his wife Valrene also served as surrogate parents for Claxton during her time on campus.

“Besides being a tremendous coach when I was at UAlbany, I also saw Coach Vives as a father figure,” said Claxton. “Fast forward a couple years later I asked him and Valrene to be the godparents of my now 1-year-old son, Thyree.”

“I am excited for Grace and feel that she is at her best for these Olympic Games. She is ready to compete and represent her native Puerto Rico with honor,” said Vives. “It is incredible that she has been able to achieve this a little over a year after having her first child. She follows our team mantra to 'Do The Incredible.’”

Claxton will carry the love of her family, her country, UAlbany, her adoptive parents and her son with her when she steps into the starting blocks at the legendary Stade de France in Saint-Denis when the women’s 400m hurdles event begins on August 4.

“It’s a very proud moment knowing that I’ll be representing Puerto Rico once again, at such high-quality competition as the Olympic Games,” said Claxton. “The thought of competing this year has been even more special, seeing that I’ll be doing it as a first-time mom.”

She is also hoping to be improve upon her time from 2016 and perhaps break the Puerto Rico national record of 55.03 in the 400m hurdles.

After her time in France is complete, Claxton will take a much needed break: She has been training virtually nonstop since December. 

The break may also include a visit to UAlbany, when Claxton will be formally inducted into the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame in September. She looks forward to using the opportunity to speak to the track and field team and meet the new incoming students.

Claxton is the fourth Great Dane to compete in the Olympic Games, and the second to do so at more than one Olympics.

Shawn Sheldon represented the U.S. in 1988 (Seoul) and 1992 (Barcelona) in Greco-Roman wrestling, finishing fourth in Spain. He was also a first-team Division III All-American in 1986 (and 3-time All-American overall).

Andy Seras, Division III national champion in 1985, wrestled for the U.S. at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He was a Pan American gold medalist in 1991.

Roberto Caraciolo Mandje, who primarily ran the steeplechase at UAlbany, represented Equatorial Guinea in the Athens  Olympics (2004) in the 1500 meters. While in Athens, he set a national record for Equatorial Guinea with his heat time of 4:03.37.