Train With Grace — Grace Upshaw Tyler
Grace Upshaw Tyler

About Grace

Meet Grace and get ready to take your athletic performance to the next level.

Grace Upshaw Tyler is a high performance coach for athletes who want to take their horizontal jumping to the next level. She transformed herself from a "walk-on" college athlete into a 5x U.S. Champion, 5x World Championship Team Member, and a 2x Olympian.

Grace combines strength and conditioning with technical training. She has studied mindfulness and movement practices in depth — including mental skills training for performance — with body-mind awareness and understanding the purpose of the movement, alongside physical training. Her experience of going from a walk-on athlete to a two-time Olympian helps her address the different levels of athletes.

Outside coaching, she enjoys living on the coast, walking on the beach, and doing fun and adventurous things with her family and friends.

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Career

1954

  1. 1954

    Grace’s father, Monte Upshaw, breaks Jesse Owens’ national high school long jump record with a mark of 25-4 1/4.

  2. 1993

    “Walk-on” athlete at University of Oregon. Through the guidance and knowledge of Assistant Track and Field Coach Mark Stream, and renowned strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe, Upshaw scored at Pac-10s in 1994.

  3. 1997

    Graduated from Cal (after transferring from Oregon in 1994), “retired” from track and field to pursue a career in the Entertainment Industry with a music video production company, Propaganda Films.

  4. 2000

    Working with a new coach, Edrick Floreal, for four weeks prior to competing in her first US National Competition at the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, finishing 9th, walking off the field with a determination and goal to make the Olympic team four years later.

  5. 2003

    USA Outdoor Champion | Ranked #5 in world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN | Best of 6.99w.

  6. 2004

    U.S. Olympic Team | Ranked #9 in the world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN | Best of 6.83m/22-5.25 & 6.88w.

  7. 2005 and 2006

    Self-coached.

  8. 2005

    USA Outdoor champion | 7th at World Outdoors | Ranked #4 in the world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN | Best of 6.73/22-1.

  9. Fall 2006-2007

    Relocated to Los Angeles to be coached by Mike Powell, World Record Holder in the Long Jump.

  10. 2007

    USA Outdoor champion | Ranked #2 in the U.S. by T&FN | Best of 6.74m/22-1.5.

  11. Fall 2007-08

    Reunited with coach, Edrick Floreal.

  12. 2008

    U.S. Olympic Team | Ranked #8 in the world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN | Best of 6.88m/22-7.

  13. 2009

    Final year of competition | Moved to Chula Vista, CA to train at the US Olympic Training Center under the guidance and knowledge of Dan Pfaff and the support staff of the Olympic Training Center | Set Stadium record at Historic Edwards Stadium at UC Berkeley with a jump of 6.80/22-3.75.

  14. 2014

    Inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, alongside her father, Monte Upshaw.

  15. Today

    Coaching the next generation of horizontal jumpers.

1954Today
Grace Upshaw Tyler landing in the sand during the Beijing 2008 Olympic long jump final
Beijing 2008 — 7th place in the Olympic final.

a family legacy

The Upshaw family

Embracing my family legacy and history. Being the youngest of four siblings, I’m proud and grateful for the path that they’ve ALL carved out.

My father, Monte Upshaw, had tremendous success in the long jump as a high school athlete. He broke Jesse Owens high school record in 1954 with a jump of 25-4 1/4. He continued on with his career at UC Berkeley and contributed to the track and field team in the hurdles, long jump and record setting distance medley even after a severe injury to his knee occurred during his freshman year. Monte Upshaw was a track & field standout for the Bears from 1954-58. As a senior, he set a world and American record in the sprint medley relay (3:18.8), along with Jack Yerman, Willie White, and Don Bowden. He also established a national collegiate freshman record in the sprint relay (3:20.9) in 1955, with teammates Leamon King, John Merchant, and Bowden. GO BEARS!

My sister, Joy Upshaw, is a National and World Masters record holder for various age groups and is an integral part of introducing track and field to thousands of youth in our community through her Jackrabbits Track Club.

My brother, Chip Upshaw, had incredible success in the hurdles, long jump, and sprints at the high school level, and still holds many of our local high school records.

My sister, Merry Upshaw Irwin, was a two-time All-American and school record holder in the 800 meters at Linfield College.

My maternal grandfather, “Stormin” Norman Jackson, was a successful sprinter with a time of 9.3 in the 100yd dash in 1930!

Three generations of long jumpers came through the same corner of the East Bay. Now a third generation is carrying the tradition forward. Grace's daughter, Hope, is a high school track athlete just beginning her own journey in the long jump. Joy's daughters, Sunny and Windy, both competed in track and field at Cal.

Grace Upshaw and her sister Joy Upshaw, coaches and lifelong track athletes, on a training track together.
Grace & Joy Upshaw — Grace coaches Jump Squad. Joy runs Joy’s Jackrabbits Track Club.

Grace is also Head Coach for long jump at Joy’s Jackrabbits Track Club. Read her coach bio at Joy’s Jackrabbits.

Whether it be body, mind, or spirit, Grace can help you reach your full potential.

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