Walmart deli worker who became a track star is now aiming for the Paris Olympics

The world has many hidden athletic talents lurking in the remote corners, doing odd jobs. All it takes is a little push to bring out their skills. Recently, a North Carolina Walmart deli worker, Dylan Beard has been making the headlines for his exceptional talent as a track runner. After a recent victory at the esteemed Millrose Games in February, Beard hopes to get into the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The Walmart worker's victory was a completely unexpected one because he is not the typical athlete who trains full-time and has sponsors as one would think, as per NBC Olympics.

Years ago, the 13-year-old Beard never thought that he would ace the track and field games. However, he gave it a try and during his sophomore year of high school, he went on to create a school record in the 110m hurdles. Since his sophomore year, Beard had been honing his track skills until a major tailbone injury became a significant setback in his athletic journey after which he was running indoor track and field. After a brief interruption due to COVID-19, Beard's athletic endeavors started again once he joined the track program at Howard University while completing his master's in public health. Having hurdles specialist David Oliver as the Director of Track & Field at Howard, Beard constantly strived to live up to his expectations.

With meticulous coaching from Oliver, Beard flourished in the sport so well that he ended up smashing his coach's 19-year-old school record of 13.55 seconds in the 110m hurdles. In April 2023, Beard won the race at 13.31 seconds becoming the second fastest in the nation. However, not every competition was his cup of tea. Bear has had his bad days at times but he never ceases to put in the effort that is needed. Living with his aunt in Wake Forest, North Carolina, the Walmart worker always ensures to give his best in both sports and work. He works both weekend and weeknight shifts from 6 pm to 11 pm making sandwiches, washing dishes and building a rapport with the customers. In the mornings he rigorously undergoes weight training and track and field practices.

"I'm balancing weights, practice and trying to get to work on time. Then I work and am exhausted," Beard told the media channel. He added that his manager was also quite understanding about him taking days off for competitions. All his hard work paid off when Beard broke the facility record at the men’s 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games this February. He grabbed the first place at just 7.44 seconds which was also his personal best. Reuben McCoy, a former track star and coach at NC State University was quite impressed by Beard's performance at the Tom Jones Invitational in Gainesville, Florida that he became his professional coach last August.

"Dylan is a man I can trust. He has a great outlook on life. He doesn’t have resources like sponsorship. He has to work at a job like Walmart and stand on his feet, then go to the weight room, then deal with what I throw at them in a workout," McCoy told the media. Praising Beard's strenuous efforts, his Walmart manager told Today, "Dylan’s work ethic is next level. He provides excellent customer service all the time. He goes above and beyond, just like he does on the track." Having wooed the audience at the Millrose Games, Beard seemed to be a potential participant in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The deli worker is all set to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon this June and hopes to make his Olympic dream come true.