What are the moments that have defined the careers of the six U.S. Olympic marathoners?

We’ve selected five for each athlete in order from epic to the most epic. With there only being room for five, some big moments had to be left off. You try condensing Meb Keflezighi's career into such a small capsule! Anyways, here we go:

Galen Rupp, 29 (3-Time Olympian)

#5 3:50.92 indoor mile at 2013 BU Terrier Invite- #2 U.S. history (January 26th, 2013):



#4 Two American records in 9 days- 13:01 5k and 8:07 2-mile 

13:01 5k (January 16th, 2014):



8:07 2-Mile (January 25th, 2014):



#3 Won 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in marathon debut, 2:11:12 (February 13th, 2016)

Rupp on the possibility of doing the 10k-marathon double in Rio this summer:



#2 10,000m American record at 2014 Pre Classic, 26:44 (May 30th, 2014):

His reaction a day later: 



#1 Silver medal in 2012 Olympic Games 10,000m, 27:30- First American man to medal in 10,000m since 1964 (August 4th, 2012):

Meb Keflezighi, 40 (4-Time Olympian)

#5 Fourth in 2012 Olympic Games Marathon, 2:11:06 (August 12th, 2012):


©Photo Run​

#4 Won 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:09:08- At 36, oldest to win in event history (January 14th, 2012)

Meb's Dad was really pumped:



#3 Won 2009 New York City Marathon, 2:09:15- First American to win NYC since 1982 (November 1st, 2009):

 

#2 Silver medal in 2004 Olympic Games Marathon, 2:11:29- First American to win Olympic Marathon medal since 1976 (August 29th, 2004)

Meb reflects on his Athens silver in this documentary:



#1 Won Boston Marathon 2014, 2:08:37- First American to win Boston since 1983 (April 21st, 2014):

Jared Ward, 27 (First-Time Olympian)

#5 14th at 2012 NCAA XC Championships, 29:33 (November 17th, 2012)

Mustache game strong even then:​



#4 2nd in 2015 U.S. Half Marathon Championships, 61:42 (January 18th, 2015):


©Photo Run

#3 Won 2015 U.S. 20k Championships, 59:24 (September 7th, 2015):

Video: Jared Ward wins the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race #NHRR pic.twitter.com/TWmdwlDkax

— Mary Albl (@MaryAlbl) September 7, 2015

#2 Won 2015 U.S. Marathon title in Los Angeles, 2:12:56 (March 15th, 2015):



#1 3rd at 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:13:00 (February 13th, 2016)

"It's a dream come true":

 
Watch our pre-Trials feature with Jared Ward, Return To Form.

Amy Cragg, 32 (Two-Time Olympian)

#5 5th in 2014 Chicago Marathon, 2:27:03 (October 12th, 2014):



#4 2nd in 2011 LA Marathon in debut, 2:27:03 (March 20th, 2011):



#3 Won 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m, 31:58 (June 22nd, 2012)

After a tough 4th place finish in the 2012 Marathon Trials, victory was sweet in the 10k:



#2 11th in 2012 Olympic 10,000m, 31:10- Top American (August 3rd, 2012):


©Image of Sport

#1 Won 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:28:20 (February 13th, 2016)

"I decided a long time ago I wasn't going to finish 4th again":​​

Desi Linden, 32 (Two-Time Olympian)

#5 4th in 2015 Boston Marathon, 2:25:39 (April 20th, 2015)

"I did everything I had to do today":



#4 3rd in 2010 Chicago Marathon, 2:26:20 (October 10th, 2010):



#3 2nd in 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:25:55 (January 14th, 2012)

"The ultimate reward for all the hard work":



#2 2nd in 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:28:53 (February 13th, 2016)

"The toughest 26.2 ever. It felt so much longer":



#1 2nd in 2011 Boston Marathon, 2:22:38 (April 18th, 2011):

Shalane Flanagan, 34 (Four-Time Olympian)

#5 2nd in 2010 New York City Marathon in debut, 2:28:40- Top American woman at NYC since 1990 (November 7th, 2010):



#4 3rd in 2014 Berlin Marathon, 2:21:14- #2 U.S. history (September 28th, 2014):


©Image of Sport

#3 Won 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, 2:25:38 (January 14th, 2012)

"This one has got to be one of the top [of her U.S. titles]":



#2 Bronze medal in 2011 World Cross Country Championships, 25:10- First American woman since 2003 to medal (March 20th, 2011):



#1 Bronze medal in 2008 Olympic Games 10,000, 30:22 American record- First American woman to medal in 10,000m since 1992 (August 15th, 2008):


©Image of Sport

Watch The Trials of Shalane Flanagan Ep. 1