Jumper Claye out for gold in return from Achilles tear
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All it took was one hop, step and long leap into the sand to remind everyone of what they already knew 鈥 Will Claye is the clear favorite in the triple jump at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 30-year-old Claye, who also happens to be a hip-hop recording artist and the subject of a documentary, needed just one qualifying jump at the US track and field trials to earn the top spot for the final.
He looked as smooth as ever on the night of March 19 inside Hayward Field and like that torn Achilles tendon 鈥 the one he suffered after grabbing a rebound in a friendly basketball game 鈥 was no longer an issue.
It sure could鈥檝e been.
He ruptured the tendon just months before 2020 Tokyo Games and probably wouldn鈥檛 have been back in time had the pandemic not postponed the Olympics to this summer.
That鈥檚 put him in another unique position: gold-medal favorite.
That falls on him, and lends itself to the ultimate irony: His friend, main rival and two-time defending Olympic champion Christian Taylor got sidelined by his own ruptured Achilles tendon last month.
Claye鈥檚 vow to Taylor 鈥 and himself: 鈥淚 will hold things down until Christian returns.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 back and feeling like myself again and feeling better,鈥 added Claye, who鈥檚 also declared in the long jump.
鈥淚 want to go out there and put on a show.鈥
The last time the world saw Claye, he was bounding into the stands soon after earning silver at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Once there, he dropped to a knee and proposed to hurdler Queen Harrison with a ring he brought in his backpack.
Quick update: They got married.
They鈥檝e launched a fashion line called 鈥淓levate.鈥 He recently released a hip-hop single titled 鈥淲ee Hours鈥 and it dropped at the same time as his documentary film 鈥淓levate,鈥 which was a project through his sponsor Red Bull.
The only thing missing: That elusive Olympic gold medal.
In the last two versions of the Olympics, Claye had finished runner-up to Taylor. They鈥檝e brought out the best out in each other since even before becoming teammates at the University of Florida (Claye started at Oklahoma before transferring).
Although his heart aches for Taylor, Claye issued a promise 鈥 he would do his best to keep the medal in the American family.
鈥淗e鈥檚 strong,鈥 Claye said. 鈥淵ou know he鈥檒l be back. But I really feel for Christian.鈥
Most of the time, Claye is mild-mannered. But once he steps onto the track for a meet or into the recording studio he transforms into his persona, 鈥淚ll Will.鈥
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to mess with that person,鈥 cracked Claye, who鈥檚 sponsored by Puma. 鈥淭hat person is locked in and focused where everything flows.鈥
Just like his verses in 鈥淲ee Hours,鈥 a collaboration with DJ Khalil. A sample lyric: 鈥淭roubles ain鈥檛 going to last you always.鈥
It鈥檚 the perfect song for the documentary, which provides a glimpse into Claye鈥檚 world as he trains for the Olympics and makes music. It also reflects on his life growing up near Phoenix.
One poignant scene in the film was Claye and his wife 鈥 who鈥檚 also competing at the trials 鈥 talking over dinner about race and society.
Claye: 鈥淗ow does it feel to compete for the United States but then feel like underrepresented by the country in some instances?鈥
Harrison-Claye: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 twofold, because to me I do feel like anytime do have an American flag on my chest, I felt super supportive by America. Now, the issues come when I鈥檓 not in uniform.
鈥淒o I get that same respect? I don鈥檛.鈥
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