Spokane Valley chiropractor Dr. Dru Lopez will fulfill a lifelong dream and serve as the head chiropractor for the U.S. track and field team at the Paris Olympics.
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Dr. Dru Lopez will soon be realizing a dream he and his parents shared as the lead chiropractor for the U.S. track and field team at the Paris Summer Olympics.
Lopez will be performing alongside some of the sport’s biggest names on the sport’s biggest stage.
At Summit Chiropractic & Sports Institute, Lopez brings his passion and expertise to the training. On a typical day, he works out with Parker Bowden, a local track and field athlete who recently competed in the 110-meter hurdles at the Olympic Trials. Lopez has been helping Bowden stay in tip-top condition since he was in middle school.
“Anyone can work on the track or in the weight room,” Bowden says, “but I think this is what separates good performance from great performance.”
Lopez had always dreamed of working with athletes, and after years of hard work and volunteering, he ended up working with some of the best players in the world. It’s been a long journey from his early days.
“I did a lot of triathlons, 5Ks and marathons, and then one year I found out that USA Junior Track and Field was hosting the Junior Olympics in town,” Lopez said, “and I thought it would be a good idea to volunteer.”
Lopez continued volunteering and got more opportunities. He eventually became president of his local USA Track and Field Inland Northwest Association. This led to him being invited to national championships, the Pan American Junior Championships, and the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Now he’s competing in the Olympics.
“They kept inviting me back,” Lopez said. “Now I’m the head chiropractor for the U.S. team. It’s been a long journey from 2011 to 2024, but it’s always been my goal to get to this stage and go to the Olympics.”
His journey is even more impressive when you consider Lopez’s background: He immigrated to the United States at age 11, and his family sacrificed everything for a better life.
He went to school, opened a clinic and became the go-to chiropractor for the country’s top athletes. As he prepares for his trip to Paris, Lopez feels grateful and proud.
“This country has been so great for us,” Lopez said. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to give back to my new country and the community that raised me. It’s a dream come true to represent the U.S. National Team, the players, the medical staff and my family. My parents sacrificed everything for this, and now I’m living our dream.”
Lopez was selected as the team’s chiropractor based on the evaluation of players after each tournament, which will determine whether they are called back, and it’s clear he excels in his field.
