Knoxville native and ETSU track & field junior, Mary Oakley Robertson, has made her mark on the Olympics in a unique way. As reported by WATE, Robertson's custom shoe designs have taken steps onto the international stage after being picked up by the USA Gymnastics Olympic team for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Robertson's journey from hopeful athlete to artisan with Olympic clout manifested a dream that took an unexpected turn. "Everyone is like, ‘you’re technically at the Olympics.’ I was like, ‘Moakley Customs is at the Olympics but Mary Oakley is not at the Olympics,’” Robertson confided in an interview to WATE. Her connection to the athletes began serendipitously when Leah Brown, the creative director for OZONE Leotards, commissioned her for custom cleats, leading to the gymnastics team's request.

The rushing timeline didn't deter Robertson. She completed an order of 10 pairs in just five days, a task she says usually takes between 20 to 30 hours for just one pair. In a testament to familial teamwork, every member of her family pitched in. "I felt very loved and very blessed that everyone, everyone was doing something," Robertson stated in WBIR's coverage of the event. 

Robertson's roots in shoe painting trace back to a spontaneous compliment on the beach. "Some girl saw and was like, 'I need those, where did you get them?'" Robertson recalled to WBIR. Now, her designs aren't just a personal statement but a piece of Olympic memorabilia. The pride of Knoxville Catholic High School, her alma mater, has naturally skyrocketed, sharing their accolades on social media. "So proud of Mary Oakley Robertson, KCHS class of 2022, for painting custom sneaks for ⁦@USAGym @Olympics," posted the school via Knox Catholic's official X.

While Robertson may not be in Paris cheering from the stands, her artistry has leaped across oceans. "It’s amazing, it's unreal," Robertson mused in a moment of reflection shared by WBIR. "It is an honor for them to go to the Olympics and then just a local girl from Knoxville was able to give those amazing women shoes to take a do whatever, it's incredible really." With that, Robertson's custom designs pirouette beyond mere fashion, becoming a silent yet vibrant cheerleader for every bound and vault of Team USA's women gymnasts in Paris.