Alumni Spotlight: Tanner Wright’s Race Beyond the Track

From Silver Linings to Silver Medals

When the pandemic struck, Wright returned home to Fort Worth and spent unexpected time with family.

Tanner races next to his friend Thomas Normandeau of Canada.

“As an athlete, there wasn’t much I could do at the time, so I took some time off and focused on myself and spent time with my family,” Wright said. “Eventually, I started to notice I was getting out of shape, so I knew I needed to start training again.”

After a brief hiatus, Tanner returned to HSU to finish his undergraduate degree. He lived in the freshman dorms—“just toughing it out”—and helped coach the track and field team during his final semester. One month after graduating, he was accepted into the master’s program and started in January 2021 as a graduate assistant and assistant coach, all while continuing his own training.

“I wanted more than just a bachelor’s degree,” he said. “HSU was already a familiar place, somewhere I could grow academically, train personally, and give back through coaching.”

That season, Wright said he met some of his best friends, and together they accomplished more than anyone expected.

“It was a life-changing experience for me. I learned a lot about myself and about leadership,” Wright said. “Most of the athletes I coached have graduated now, but that year helped shape who I am and gave me a renewed sense of motivation in my own training.”

That summer, Wright made the Tokyo team and finished fourth at the Tokyo Games.

A Champion Coach, A Champion Heart

After the Tokyo Games, coaching became the next defining chapter for Wright. Though just a few years older than the athletes he mentored, he helped lead HSU’s track team to remarkable success.

“The average coaching age was 24 or 25,” he laughed. “We were surrounded by 80 kids, and we did way more than people expected of us.”

That year also sparked new relationships, most importantly, meeting Maria Spinelli ’22.

“Right before I graduated, I met Maria,” shared Wright. “We’re getting married in May 2026. Meeting her was one of the biggest blessings.”

Focused on studies, training, and coaching, Wright expanded his skills by learning new events like the shot put and discus, even having athletes win conference titles.

Eventually, he moved back to Fort Worth to be closer to Maria, continuing his training while connecting with a new coach, where he also volunteered as a track and field coach. That move allowed Wright to see and communicate with a coach consistently, and the move paid off.

“Everything clicked,” he said. “I didn’t have to coach full time, so I was able to train more and even practice alongside the team. Most importantly, I had a coach who could keep eyes on me every day.”

With a new place and new environment, Wright adopted a “tunnel vision” mindset, structuring his entire life around track and field, including his work schedule.

That same year, Wright captured the elusive medal he’d chased for years—silver at the World Championships in Paris.

“I always say it took me six years to get there. I’d finished in fourth place at major meets too many times to count. But 2023 was finally my year,” said Wright.

His efforts culminated not only in peak physical form but also in sharing the experience with Maria.

“She was one of the few people who got to see me compete for Team USA with ‘USA’ across my chest,” he shared. “That meant the world to me. I don’t think either of us expected a medal; I figured maybe I could sneak into third. But, she saw me at my absolute best athletically, and that’s something I’ll always cherish.”

After that high, Tanner turned his focus to preparing for the 2024 Paralympic season.

The Toughest Race

But 2024 brought a trial of a different kind. Just six weeks before the trials, Tanner’s father was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

“Training was going well, and my job was steady. But then, after his diagnosis, my world turned upside down,” Wright shared. “Family is really important to me.”

Despite his best efforts, Tanner missed the Paris Paralympic team by one spot—“athlete No. 36 out of 35 taken.”

“I think missing the team was a blessing in disguise. I’d been looking for a reason to step away, and it’s hard to walk away when you still feel like there’s something left in the tank,” Wright shared. “But for me, it was time. I did a bit of training here and there leading into 2025, but I’d come to terms with the decision.”

Wright retired from competitive track and field in 2025, closing the chapter on an eight-year journey.

“I started this journey when I was 19, and I wrapped it up at 27,” Wright shared. “That’s eight years of competing on the international stage, traveling the world, running for Team USA, chasing a dream, and living that dream. But life moves on, and my focus shifted.”

Tanner poses for a photo with his fiancé, Maria Spinelli.

Today, Tanner works as a personal trainer at Canyon Ranch in Fort Worth and has been interested in pursuing medical sales through the influence of his brother. Though retired, he hopes to coach again one day.

“I have a master’s, eight years of experience, and a heart for mentoring,” said Wright. “Track and field changed my life. I want to help others experience that too.”

Hardin-Simmons remains a defining part of Wright’s journey. HSU gave him his fiancée, his coaching career, the environment to chase a dream, and, most importantly, a renewal of his faith.

“HSU gave me my future wife,” he said simply. “I’ll always be grateful for that. I also wasn’t very religious when I came to HSU, but being around that kind of faith—it changed me. I even spoke at a chapel service. The older I get, the more I realize how important that foundation was.”

Now, as he steps into a new chapter with resilience, heart, and humility, Tanner Wright carries that legacy with him.