Meet Chantae McMillian
As the 2020 Olympics approach, JLab is proud to highlight one of our ambassadors who competed in the U.S. Olympic Trails!
Chantae McMillian competed at this year's Olympic Trials and placed 8th in her new event, Javelin. Previously, Chantae competed in the heptathlon as part of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.
My Olympic Journey:
"The 2020(1) Olympic Trials was my 3rd trials and in a new event. I made the 2012 Olympic team in the heptathlon and I placed 5th at the 2016 trials in the heptathlon with a personal record. In 2016 I decided to retire from the heptathlon, but I wasn't done with track and field and decided to focus on just javelin.
I made it to the finals at the Olympic trials this year, in a new event and placed 8th overall. You do not hear of athletes just switching to new events and succeeding. I was very happy to make it that far, but I was not satisfied with my performance. I knew there was a very small chance of making the Olympic team this year, but I still wanted to show up at trials and throw my best."
"This year I got a new coach 5 months before trials and he wanted me to forget what I "knew" about javelin and learn things all over. I trusted him and went down this route, but not without a lot of tears. It was hard to know I was improving, but the improvements were not showing up all the time in training or even meets, so I had a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but had to believe in myself and the process.
I went backwards to go forward this season. I threw 3.5 meters further than I ever have overall. Without throwing what I know is there, I left trials with thoughts of how to tweak my program for the next season, for our Worlds competition and even the Olympics again in 3 years."
"I have had quite the career in sport over the past decade. I have had no sponsor, from a shoe contract standpoint, my entire career and now I have a family that I want to help financially. I appreciate the support from JLab and others who have believed in me along my journey.
I am excited to continue my career another 3 years and then probably call it a career after that. As long as I have expended all of my talent and inspired others along the way, I will be happy with my career." -Chantae McMillian