TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Lakeland native and Olympic athlete, Monae’ Nichols, is looking to medal in the women’s long jump finals today in Paris.
The 25-year-old track and field athlete will go for gold at 2 p.m. ET, after qualifying on Tuesday, with a distance of 6.64m behind competitors from Italy, Germany, and Nigeria.
But before making it to Paris, Nichols ran right here in the Tampa Bay area, at Auburndale High School.
On today’s ‘What’s Hot in Paris,” WFLA’s J.B. Biunno and Olympic champion Brooke Bennett will discuss Nichols’ journey to Paris with her high school track coach, Sheryl Covington Thomas.
Thomas met Nichols when she was competing in a club track and field in middle school. Before she got into long jumping, she initially did hurdling. But later on in her freshman year, she began diving into the world of jumping.
“It just took off from there,” Thomas said.
Thomas reflected on a hurdling competition in Winter Haven when she failed. But Nichols came to Thomas, telling her that she could get back up and “do this.”
“It was that competitive nature.”
Her former coach also talked about the importance of athletes’ ability to believe in themselves, and using that belief to get themselves to high-level competitions, like the Olympics.
“It’s that drive,” Thomas said of Nichols.
Thomas hopes that Nichols coming from the small town of Auburndale and all her efforts poured into track and field will inspire other young girls to pursue their Olympic dreams.
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Monae’ Nichols celebrates during the women’s long jump final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) -
Monae’ Nichols, of the United States, competes during the women’s long jump qualification at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) -
Monae’ Nichols, of the United States, competes during the women’s long jump qualification at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) -
Monae’ Nichols, of the United States, makes an attempt in the women’s long jump during the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) -
Monae’ Nichols, of the United States, claps her hands while competing in the women’s long jump during the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, March 3, 2024.. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) -
Monae’ Nichols, of the United States, reacts after winning the silver medal in the women’s long jump during the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) -
Monae’ Nichols, of the United States, reacts after winning the silver medal in the women’s long jump during the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) -
Monae’ Nichols competes in the women’s long jump final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) -
Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrates after winning the women’s long jump final with Jasmine Moore and Monae Nichols during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) -
Monae’ Nichols competes in the women’s long jump final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) -
Monae’ Nichols competes in the women’s long jump final during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
At the end of the show, Bennett revealed her Mount Rushmore of all-time U.S. male Olympians. Vote for your favorite male athlete below.
J.B. and Bennett also discussed 16-year-old Quincy Wilson, the youngest runner to compete in a track and field event while looking ahead to the men’s 200m finals happening at 2:30 p.m. ET., where Floridians Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton will face fellow American Kenny Bednarek.
“What’s Hot in Paris” is live streamed every weekday throughout the Paris Olympics at 11 a.m. ET.
