Sara Vaughn did not win the women’s 1500 meters at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She finished third behind Jenny Simpson and Kate Grace. But her stunning effort to finish third and seal her very first berth for the World Championships in London is probably the biggest victory in itself.

Because Sara Vaughn is no ordinary athlete, training with a single-minded focus on the championships; she is 31 years old, mother to three daughters, and full-time real estate agent, along with being a runner who will now represent USA at the 2017 World Championships.

Vaughn finished the race in tears, getting through just 0.28 second ahead of the fourth place, and shouted “I’m taking you to London” to her children at the post race interview. She said she had been been bribing her kids with the London trip if they would “let her get her second run in”.

Vaughn reached the final of the Olympic Trials last year, 11 months after giving birth to her youngest. She didn’t make it, but a year later is all set to be part of USA’s track and field team for the first time, at the age of 31, when most athletes would consider the twilight of their career. With her never-say-die spirit, Vaughn has scripted a different kind of history.

Her inspirational story was immediately the talk of social media as fellow athletes and fans saluted “Mom Vaughn”, as her Twitter handle reads, for her incredible journey.

What an inspiration!