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Axel's Personal Best

A Truce of Authenticity with Nikki Hiltz

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A Truce of Authenticity with Nikki Hiltz

About this episode

A commitment to the grind remains one of the main tools Nikki Hiltz is taking into the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships this weekend in Poland as they lock in and seize the chance to crack another finish line tape first and win on the international stage.

Just weeks prior, a familiar tale played out in New York as Hiltz grabbed a fourth straight women’s indoor 1,500m title in 4:11.34 — their tenth national crown overall — and dominated during an early season buildup that won’t include major outdoor championship or Olympics.

Still, the plan is simple as it is clear and Hiltz spoke on what matters most in a wide-ranging chat about pushing even harder on the track, continued advocacy, the decision to go pubic about a personal decision regarding their body and finding the formula to close out the indoor season at the top of the podium.

About Axel's Personal Best

I’m Axel-Ryan Nzi — a Division III runner at Bowdoin College. And this is my Personal Best. Every Tuesday, I explore the sport of running through interviewing the best pro runners insiders and personalities about a journey that begins with the feet and ends with landing in a solid headspace.

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