Although he is listed at just 5-9, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin stands out on and off the football field.
In a league brimming with some the world’s greatest athletes, Goodwin is the cream of the crop. In addition to being a professional football player, he also moonlights as a world-class long jumper, having competed in London at the 2012 Olympics.
Representing Team USA, Goodwin finished 10th in 2012, and was hoping to build on that finish in 2016. However, despite having recorded the two longest jumps in the world this year, Goodwin will have to put his Olympic dreams on hold.
The former Texas Longhorn finished seventh in Sunday’s Olympic trials, falling more than a foot short of Jeffery Henderson’s winning mark. Despite the end of his 2016 Olympic hopes, Goodwin remained optimistic:
“At the time, it’s frustrating, but you really can’t dwell on that,” Goodwin said of not making his second Olympic team. “Life is too good to harp on a situation like that. Maybe at the time I can be a little disappointed, but now I’m alive, and there is so much more to look forward to.”
“I’ll take a few days off, get my mind right and start getting ready for football,” Goodwin said. “Camp is less than a month away.”
Goodwin said he aggravated his hamstring a bit during trials, which contributed to his disappointing finish. Still, he is only 25, and will likely have another shot at an Olympic medal at the 2020 Games.
His Olympic dreams may be dashed, but at least Goodwin will be on time for training camp.
[ESPN]
