“Olympic Dream Was Done”: Being a Multi-Sport Athlete, Keturah Orji Opens Up on the ‘Heartbreak’ Accompanying the New Move

There have been times when the athletes have been seen transitioning between sports, seeking better opportunities or a more precise fit for their talents. Keturah Orji of the United States is one such name who transitioned to track and field to pursue triple jump as her professional career and make a name for herself at the highest level. Representing her nation at the Olympics was also her lifelong dream, which came to life after switching to the latter discipline.

However, not many people are aware that the 28-year-old athlete wanted to lead America in the Olympics while associated with some other sport, which she had to give up later. The track and field sensation opened up about the same recently during an interview, and it is something that needs to be heard by every sports enthusiast.

The sport that she thought would lead her to Olympics

The New Jersey-based athlete sat for an interview on Thursday with 11Alive on their YouTube channel, where she was talking about her Olympic dreams. In a particular segment, Orji opened up about gymnastics and how she gained discipline after practicing the sport. When asked about going to the Olympics while doing gymnastics, she states, “Definitely gymnastics to me, like, is one of those sports to me that, it always leads to Olympics. Probably within middle school, I always thought like I wanna go to the Olympics. I remembered when I decided to quit gymnastics and started track. I thought that the Olympic dream was done.”

The Hoboken native also affirmed that she finds herself lucky that she was equally good at track and field and “ended up going to the Olympics.” The 2016 Summer Games were her maiden Olympics, and she finished in fourth place in the women’s triple jump. The same competitions also witnessed her triple jump, an American record of 14.71 meters. In the subsequent Tokyo Olympics, she finished in seventh place in the triple jump category. The track and field prodigy also shed light on the upcoming competitions in Paris and what she wanted people to take away from the sports extravaganza.

Track and field star’s perspective on the French event

When asked what she wants people to feel when they watch the Paris spectacle, the Pan American silver medalist replied that she wants them to get inspired to pursue sports themselves and for their kids as well. She also wants them to feel great about themselves, as the magnificence lies inside them. Orji also thinks that every individual out there is talented and gifted, and sports can bring them together.

Giving an example of athletes who speak non-English languages, with whom she has competed, underscores how the sport serves as a universal language, fostering connections on a shared level. With all that in place, the athlete seems poised to represent the United States in July and make every possible effort to secure a podium finish and transition herself from an Olympian to an Olympic medalist.

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