- December 4, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
Courtesy photo
Liam Olinger’s journey in cross-country began in seventh grade. Years later, he finds himself as a senior on Foundation Academy’s team.
During his sophomore and junior seasons, Olinger qualified with the team to states, and he will play a vital role in Foundation Academy’s placement in states this year. His best time in the 5K was 19:52, which he recorded last year during the Lake Buena Vista invitational.
Aside from being a hard worker and great athlete, Olinger is a phenomenal teammate. He encourages those around him and never complains.
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
School: Foundation Academy
Sport: Cross-country
How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Week?
It is an honor to be chosen. It makes me proud of all the hard work that I have put in.
What do you enjoy the most about cross-country?
What I enjoy most about cross-country is the races, competition and my team. I also love knowing that after each race when my team finishes, all of our hard work paid off.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from cross-country?
That you have to keep working hard toward your goals — even if they seem impossible and out of reach.
What is your favorite cross-country memory?
When we learned last year that we were going to states right after we had just ran our regional race.
Who is your favorite athlete?
My favorite athlete is Joe Burrow, because he is a great example of what it looks like to be humble.
What is your go-to pre-meet meal?
I love eating pasta and garlic bread the night before a race.
What is your go-to pre-meet hype song?
I don’t really have a favorite.
What is your favorite non-sports hobby?
My favorite hobby is building and collecting Legos. I like to put them on display and add my own details to the builds.
What is your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school is English, because I enjoy reading.
What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?
The three things that I would take with me on a deserted island would be water, lots of food and a sleeping bag.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is “Avengers: Endgame.” I really enjoy any Marvel movie, but this one was my favorite because of all the action and different characters.
If you could have dinner with one person — dead or alive — who would it be?
I would have dinner with Jesus, so I could ask him questions about life and thank Him for everything He has done for me.
If you could go back in time to a specific period in history, when and where would you go?
I would go to the Jurassic period. I would want to see what dinosaurs really looked like and how the earth looked before civilization.
Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self that all of your hard work is worth it in the end. I would also say the more work you put in now the greater the reward later.
If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?
I would ask what part of the world we end up living in and what our job is.
Who is your favorite superhero?
My favorite superhero is Spider-Man, because I feel that I can relate to him, sometimes, because his character is a teen. I also loved watching Spider-Man growing up, and he inspired me to do what’s right no matter how hard it is. I learned from his character the power of sacrifice, kindness and responsibility.
Who is your favorite supervillain?
My favorite supervillain is Venom, because I really like his design and how he has the same powers as Spider-Man, but he’s bigger and stronger. Venom is a character who struggles to become something better than what he was before.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would have Spider-Man’s superpowers, because if I get bored and can’t sleep, I could go and swing around my neighborhood and go climb tall buildings.
Does pineapple belong on pizza?
I think it definitely does. One of my favorite toppings on pizza is pineapple with ham or bacon.
