By Josip Bogovic
Kara Grgas-Wheeler Goucher was inducted into the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame that took place in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Marriott City Center Hotel, October 26, 2024.
Kara was born in Queens, New York July 9, 1978. Her father, Mirko Grgas, emigrated to the US in 1961 and tragically died by a strike of a drunk driver when Kara was 4 years old (1982). Mirko was an avid soccer player and was a 3-time first team NAIA All-American at Ottawa University in Kansas. Kara’s grandfather, Calvin Haworth, introduced her to the sport of track and field.
Kara attended Duluth East High School and won 4 Minnesota individual high school cross-country and track titles and was recognized as being among the best runners in the nation. At University of Colorado, Kara (96 to 2001) was a 7 time NCAA All-American and 3 time NCAA Champion. In 2000 she was the NCAA Outdoor Champion in the 3000 and 5000 meter the NCAA Cross Country Champion and a 5000-meter Olympic trial Finalist. She won the Honda Sports Award as the best female collegiate cross-country runner in the nation in 2001. Professionally, Kara was the 10,000-meter silver medalist at the 2007 World Championships in Japan and became the first American woman (no American man has accomplished that either) to metal in this event.
Both Kara and husband Adam hold the NCAA cross country titles and hope son Colt will follow in the family tradition. Kara’s aunt, Davorka Grgas, was with her in Pittsburg during the Award Ceremony.
Kara sacrificed much in her career having undergone 11 sport related surgical procedures.
“I used to run 135 miles per week, it takes a toll on the body. Surgical procedures are a part of an athlete’s life, especially if you are in it for a long haul. One must remember that the life of an athlete is training,” said the happy, fit, impressionable athlete.
Kara’s abilities and accomplishments were recognized by NIKE, the company in turn sponsored the runner in her career. Kara also represented the USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (placed 10th) and 2012 London Olympics (placed 11th). In 2008, she finished 3rd at the New York City Marathon and 3rd in the 2009 Boston Marathon.
“After my professional career I teamed up with Allison Felix, the most decorated woman in track and field. We wanted athletes to have certain rights: for example, we were instrumental in getting woman in our sport maternity protection, which I did not have. I have a podcast called “Nobody Asked Us”, where we explore various issues of track and field including doping,” said the focused, passionate sports advocate.
Kara Grgas-Wheeler Gaucher is also a bestselling author having written a book in 2023 titled ‘The Longest Race’ which made it to the NY Times best seller list. Kara also served as a track and field analyst for NBC during the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics. The accomplished athlete lives with her family in Boulder, Colorado.
“When I’m challenged in life and sports, I think of my father Mirko, and that connection gets me through the block.”
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