NFL Wideout Marquise Goodwin Looks To Land Spot on US Olympic Track & Field Team

The 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games are less than a month away. With athletes from around the globe set to compete for everlasting glory, the United States Olympic contingent will once again look to do the nation proud.

Among the disciplines that the US historically dominates are those falling under the bracket of track and field. With a whole bunch of events to pick from, one NFL athlete is looking to land himself a spot to represent the country at the long jump event.

And that person is none other than Chicago Bears wideout Marquise Goodwin.

Marquise Goodwin gunning for a berth on US Olympic team yet again

A little known fact about Marquise Goodwin is that the wideout is a former Olympian. Before making his foray into the NFL, Goodwin represented the US track and field team at the 2012 London Games.

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The wideout had won the Olympic Trials held back in 2012 to land a ticket to the games held across the pond. After finishing 10th, Goodwin entered the league by signing with the Buffalo Bills.

He tried out for the 2016 Rio Olympic games as well but failed to make the cut. Now 30, the former Niners wideout is looking to reclaim his spot among the nation’s finest track and field stars.

Goodwin advanced to the preliminaries set to take place on Friday by recording 8.12 meter jump. The event will be taking place at Eugene, Oregon where advancing would mean booking a berth for the final qualifiers to be held on Sunday.

?My chances are always high because you never know what could happen on that day,? Goodwin said while talking to the Chicago Tribune.

Goodwin is yet to play a snap in the NFL wearing a Bears uniform. After spending three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, the wideout was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles but decided to sit out the 2020 campaign due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

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If Goodwin does qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Games he’ll end up missing out on the side’s preseason training camp. But that shouldn’t be an issue as the Bears have sounded their support to the wideout as he chases his Olympic dream.