Alumnus competes in Paris Olympics

August 13, 2024 - 03:11 PM

Two hundred and six countries. Nearly 11,000 athletes. One Mt. SAC alumnus.

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics brought together thousands of athletes from around the world. Among these elite competitors was a Mt. SAC Mountie, Kyree King.

King, a sprinter on the United States Track and Field team, was on the Mt. SAC Men’s Track and Field team in 2013 and 2014. At the Olympics, King had the honor of representing the United States in the highly anticipated 4x100m relay.

On Friday, King and his three relay teammates – Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, and Fred Kerley – crossed the finish line in seventh place.

“We knew what we can do. We came out here and we had the mindset of no risk, no reward. We went out there and went big; it didn't happen,” King told flotrack.org. “It is what it is. We can come back next time and get to it.”

The team faced challenges on the track, at one point getting disqualified for passing the baton outside of the handoff zone. While the outcome isn’t what they hoped, the opportunity to compete at the Olympics remains a rare and prestigious achievement.