He’s been profiled on ESPN, on NBC News, and in the Wall Street Journal in the last year alone. But perhaps the apogee of Mikey Brannigan’s career came in September, when he got his first fan letter. It was from a 13-year-old boy in Kentucky. In the letter, the boy said that he was trying to play baseball, despite “difficulties.”

“I was moved and motivated to work hard,” the boy wrote. “You are the perfect example of determination.”

When asked how he felt about the letter, Brannigan, 20, smiles. “Like a professional athlete.”

Brannigan was diagnosed with autism at 18 months, was nonverbal until age 5, and has a severe learning disability and a speech impediment. But as a runner, he is unstoppable. The six-time high school All-American has been attracting attention since he ran a 38:36 10K at age 12. In 2014, he became national champion in the 3200 meters after running 8:53.59. In 2015, he set a world record in the T20 (intellectual impairment) category when he ran 3:48.85 in the 1500 at the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships. And in August, he became the first person with autism to break four minutes in the mile, when he ran 3:57.58 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

While more than 200 colleges courted Brannigan, he couldn’t meet the NCAA educational requirements to compete at the college level. Instead, after graduating high school in 2015, he accepted an offer to run and train with the New York Athletic Club, which pays some of his travel and training expenses (he’ll attend community college in January). With Team USA’s help, he trained for the Paralympics at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. In preparing for the Games, Brannigan studied Matthew Centrowitz’s brilliant Olympic gold performance in the 1500 meters just a few weeks earlier.

“I saw it, like, a hundred times,” Brannigan says. “I was thinking, Run like Matt did. Run like Matt did.”

And he did: Competing in the category for intellectually impaired athletes, Brannigan led wire to wire, finishing in 3:51.73.

“I was delighted that he won gold in the Paralympics,” Centrowitz—who ran 3:50—wrote in an email. “I’m honored that Mikey looks at me for inspiration, but I’m also inspired by his accomplishments. At 20 he has a great future ahead.”

Indeed, after returning from Rio, Brannigan was greeted like a conquering hero during halftime at a football game at Northport High School, on Long Island, New York, his alma mater. “That was very special to me,” he says.

After reading the letter from the 13-year-old, Brannigan wrote the boy back. He thanked him and sympathized with his challenges. “I also struggle to overcome difficulties,” he wrote. “Keep working hard in school and playing baseball. Go out there and give it your all!”

He finished with a single line: “Look for me in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020!”

* * *

The 2017 Heroes of Running have faced doubt, adversity, and unimaginably long odds. Yet they all found the grit, grace, and humility to succeed—and inspire. Read their stories.

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