Maria
Michta-Coffey

Olympian 2012, 2016

Athlete Bio#

Height

5'5"

Age

Hometown

Nesconset, NY

Education

Sachem High School (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) ‘04 Long Island University C.W. Post ’08, Biology (undergraduate); Mount Sinai School of Medicine ‘14, Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology

Quick Facts

Daughter of Susan and Richard Michta
Married her high school sweetheart, Joe Coffey, in 2014
Has a brother, Ricky, and two sisters, Kristie and Katie
Was inspired to pursue her Olympic dream while watching U.S. gymnast Kerri Strug stick her vault landing at the 1996 Olympic Games, and while she first thought that soccer was her calling, she began to excel in race walk in high school
Graduated from Long Island University C.W. Post as the valedictorian with a degree in biology, missing her commencement to compete at the 2008 World Cup
Hobbies include reading nonfiction books about viruses, microbes, vaccines and thriller fiction novels, running and swimming
Serves as a volunteer coach for the track and field team at Sachem East High School in New York.

Career Highlights

2015 Pan American Games, 7th (20K race walk)

Olympic Experience

2-time Olympian;

Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 22th (20km Walk - Women)
Olympic Games London 2012, 26th (20km Walk - Women)

World Championship Experience

Most recent: 2023 – 24th (35km Walk - Women)
Years of participation: 35km Walk - Women 2022, 2023; 20km Walk - Women 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; 20km Walk Team - Women 2016, 2018
Top finish: – 2016 (20km Walk - Women)

Personal Website
USA Track & Field