Injuries derailed his running career at BYU. Now he’s an Olympic hopeful
Ethan Shuley’s cross country career at BYU was brief, but years later he found his second wind.
Ethan Shuley crosses the finish line during the Osaka Marathon held in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. | Tsukasa Kawarai Who is Ethan Shuley?
That’s what everyone in the running world wanted to know after the unknown, unsponsored, former BYU student completed the Osaka Marathon in February with a time of 2:07:14, making him the seventh-fastest American ever. Almost overnight, he went from a nobody who was studying film in Japan to a contender for the next Olympic team. Agents are calling, hoping to represent him.
Shoe companies are trying to sign him to a contract — reps from Asics and Puma flew in to meet him. Almost no one was surprised when it was revealed that the 27-year-old Shuley had once competed for BYU, even if only briefly. The school has become an assembly line for world-class distance runners in recent years, making their mark in the Olympics, national collegiate championships and major marathons, setting American and NCAA records along the way.
Shuley becomes the third BYU alum to join the list of the 10 fastest American marathoners ever. Ethan Shuley (138) competes in the Osaka Marathon held in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
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