At the beginning of every race, Esther Conde-Turpin ’26 fixates on the sound of her heart beating. Even as spectators cheer and the crowd goes wild, all she can hear is the thumping in her chest. When her legs kick off as the race commences, sweat drips down her neck, her sneakers pound the track, and she’s fearless, majestic, focused. Her breaths are steady. Breathe in, pace, breathe out. The applause reaches her ears, and when she crosses the finish line, she experiences an indescribable feeling: a tug on her heart, a relentless realization that her body was made to run as she keeps chasing her athletic dreams every time the opportunities present themselves. The vivid feeling of being alive, anticipation for the action ahead, and the hope for what her body can achieve drives her to be present. Conde-Turpin is in her element—free, centered, and energized.
Conde-Turpin’s specialty is the heptathlon, an event comprising 100-meter hurdles, a 200-meter sprint, an 800-meter race, a high jump, a long jump, a shot put throw, and a javelin throw. It is a beast of the track and field world and requires exceptional stamina and physical ability. Last year, Conde-Turpin broke school records in the heptathlon with a performance that ranked third in NCAA Division II history. Her athletic accomplishments speak for themselves:
- 3x French National Champion
- 1x National Indoor Champion
- 2x Outdoor First-Team All-American
- 2x Outdoor Second-Team All-American
- 2x Indoor First-Team All-American
- PacWest 2023 Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
- PacWest 2023 Women’s Track Freshman of the Year
- NCAA DII All-Time No. 2 Indoor Pentathlon
- NCAA DII All-Time No. 2 Outdoor Heptathlon
Conde-Turpin often surprises herself on the track, in the same way that unforeseen moments, both good and bad, have happened in her life.
“You never know what will occur, or who will swoop in and change your life for the better,” she said. “Sometimes I think I’m supposed to go in one direction, and one slight change moves me in a completely different one.”
From moving to a new continent twice to following her dreams as an athlete to playing a pivotal role in her husband’s restaurant, Conde-Turpin dives into life’s surprises and navigates new opportunities with a mindset of curiosity, hope, and optimism.
From Réunion Island, a territory of France off the coast of Madagascar, Conde-Turpin grew up with a spirit of adventure and vibrancy in her backyard. From beaches to mountains to forests, the multicultural community she lived in offered a taste of different cultures and all the joys that come from living life to the fullest. She always loved running. What started out as a hobby turned into a professional endeavor. She won the French Championship for the first time at 16 years old, and she moved to France at 19 to continue her sport professionally, a choice that led to her breaking records and winning multiple national championships.
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