Claye will be one of the few American track and field athletes taking part in multiple individual events in London. After finishing second in the long jump at the U.S. trials, he did the same six days later in the triple jump to qualify for both events in London. "It’s a blessing," said the 21-year-old Claye, who seems to be quite the student of jumping history. "The goal going to London is to get two gold medals, one in each jump. The last time that happened was in 1904." Myer Prinstein did it for the United States that year in St. Louis, and Claye may just be the rising star who can repeat the feat. The triple jump has been his better event in his young career, with a bronze medal at last year's outdoor world championships and a gold from this year's indoor worlds. But he also made the finals in the long jump at both of those meets, finishing ninth and fourth, respectively. Claye began his collegiate career at Oklahoma and won an NCAA title in the triple jump there before transferring to Florida, where he was a teammate of another London-bound triple jumper, reigning outdoor world champion Christian Taylor. Claye said he's had a lot of help becoming an Olympian, but "my mom is the most important," he said. "When I am having bad thoughts get in my head, I call her and she gets me on the right track. She is like my psychiatrist."
