Jan 30, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) speaks with the media at JW Marriott Turnberry. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
January 30, 2020
MIAMI (Reuters) – Tyreek Hill is one of the fastest players in the NFL and the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver is considering testing his speed against the world’s best at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The 25-year-old American, a sprinter in high school, is a key member of the Chiefs’ potent offense and after Sunday’s showdown in Miami against the San Francisco 49ers will look into securing a spot at the July 24-Aug. 9 Olympics.
“Hopefully, after this season, if I’m healthy and my mind is still in the right place, I really want to try to qualify for some Olympic teams,” Hill said this week in Miami.
When asked if he was serious about trying to make the U.S. athletics team and if he has looked into the steps required to make the squad Hill was clear.
“Yeah. Yeah, I have. I have.”
In 2013, Hill ran a 9.98 seconds 100 metres in high school but his time came with a 5.0 meter/second tailwind, which is more than double the maximum allowable for record purposes. His personal best came in 2012 when he clocked 10.19.
If Hill decides to give it a go, he has four months to meet the qualifying time of 10.05 seconds in order to compete at the June 19-28 U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon.
“But the thing is, I weigh like 195 [pounds] right now. Back in high school, when I ran a 9.9, I was like 175,” said Hill.
“If I do it, it would be me changing my whole diet, changing everything that I’ve been doing to get to this point where I am now.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Writing by Frank Pingue, editing by Ed Osmond)
