The Olympics are already very difficult to qualify for, but a young college student is pursuing it anyways! With a coach who was the first from Howard University to qualify for the trials, sophomore Miles Simon is making history in his pursuit of competing in the Olympics. He is only the second from his university to do so! Get the full story from Olivia Garvey at news station WJLA below.

The 2021 Olympic games are less than two months away, and Howard University sophomore Swimmer Miles Simon is making history.

Miles will be only the 2nd swimmer in school history to compete in the Olympic Trials. Simon’s current coach — director of swimming and diving Nicholas Askew — was the first. 

“When I made it, I was ecstatic,” Simon told 7News Sports reporter Olivia Garvey. “I was jumping around the pool. I couldn’t believe it.”

Simon clocked a 23.11 in the 50-meter freestyle to qualify for the trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Miles has been a force on the Howard swim team ever since he joined. In just his first season he won 11 races and also broke school records in the 100 IM and 100 backstroke. 

“For a good while, it didn’t really hit till probably recently, like a week or two ago, it was like, dang. I’m actually about to go do this.”

Miles has had a couple of months to prep for the trials, both mentally and physically.

“Physically, I have been kind of resting. I have two swim meets before the trials, so I’m not resting, but I’m not training as hard because I’m about to go into a fast competitive meet.”

“Mentally, I just take time to collect and realize what I’m about to go do and take deep breaths and just focus on my race,” he said.

Simon will swim on Monday, June 7th, in the 50 freestyle race.