Gianna Woodruff, a Nike professional athlete and Olympian representing Panama as the South American record holder in the women's 400-meter hurdles, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss the aspirations for her competition in Tokyo. Woodruff, a former high school star at St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood, Calif., along with a standout at the University of Washington, shares the significance in representing the native country of her mother Donna in her Olympic debut. She also shares how valuable the experience has been from competing at the 2017 World Championships in London, along with the 2019 event in Doha, reaching the semifinals at both global meets. Woodruff clocked 54.70 on May 9 at the USATF Golden Games at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., to produce the South American 400 hurdles record, in addition to achieving the Panamian national record in the 400 meters with her 52.78 effort March 27 at the 93rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin. She examines how her improved speed in the open events has translated into Woodruff running the fastest 400 hurdles times of her career. Woodruff explains how the collaboration with coach Lawrence Johnson has benefited her so much, especially during the most challenging 18 months of her career that included a move to Texas, and shares how training with reigning Olympic champion and 2019 World gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad has been the ideal preparation for her to achieve a career breakthrough and reach the 400 hurdles final Aug. 4 in Tokyo. Although she knows that the American trio of Sydney McLaughlin, Anna Cockrell and Muhammad boast three of the top seven times in the world this year, in addition to the rise of Dutch star Femke Bol also in contention for a podium spot, Woodruff shares the significance of what it would mean to become the first Panamian women's track and field athlete to secure a medal in any event. Woodruff also expresses gratitude for all the knowledge she has gained during her coaching experiences, both at Washington, as well as at St. Mary's Academy in addition to Harvard-Westlake. She also shares how her time in Tokyo will be balanced with training and preparation, along with connecting and contributing online toward her Masters degree in social work from the University of Southern California.