Molly Seidel for me.
She almost quit the sport because of mental health issues. She overcame them and came back to run to a bronze. I especially like that she is no longer a grinder. She's backed off on most of her workouts and gotten faster. She's an inspiration to every out of shape runner trying to get close to their former best.
I for one had written her off at the Olympics. She was able to qualify on a weird, coldish, hilly course and I assumed she would tank on a flat, hot, humid course. She exceeded my expectations in every way.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/opinion/molly-seidel-simone-biles-olympics.html