OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA)-25 year old Brittney Reese is right now the best long-jumper in the world, and this summer she will be defending that title at the Olympics in London.
Reese says basketball had always been her sport, but one day after a high school basketball practice she found another hidden talent with the help from a coach.
"He took the basketball team out on the track and basically said whoever can jump the furthest would get a Coke," says Reese. "I was already doing the 400 and relays, and he basically wouldn't let me [take a turn]. He finally let me [jump] and the first time I jumped 17 feet, and he couldn't believe it. He said go back and try it again, and I jumped the same. Basically it all got started over a Coke."
Since then Reese played basketball for a community college before taking a long-jumping scholarship at Ole Miss in 2006.
This is where she met Coach Joe Walker who still trains her today.
"She has a lot of God-given talents," says Walker. "She has great leaping skills, and really good speed. Her intangible talents are just as invaluable she is a very competitive person, and can rise to the occasion under stress."
Although her first trip to the Olympics wasn't ideal for Reese she says she and her Coach aren't doing much different to prepare this time.
"I don't really have a goal," says Reese. "My Coach and I just want to go out there and be the best we can be and at least try to get a medal."
"The Olympics aren't any different than what we have been doing every year," says Walker. "You have world championships that are the same meets just not in the same quad as 2004,2008,2012,2016. You don't do anything different for the Olympics you just do things to try to be ready to be on the world scene, and be the best each year."
Reese says she is a team player, and although her title only depends on her she has built a team of coaches, agents, friends and family along with the state of Mississippi and the rest of the country and she says she doesn't want to let any of them down.
Brittney Reese leaves for trials next Wednesday.
From there she will go to Rome and Switzerland before the Olympics begin July in London.
Reese says she hopes everyone will just watch her compete in the Olympics and continue to support her journey.
