Willamette University graduate Nick Symmonds qualified for the semifinal round of the men's 800-meter race at the 2012 London Olympics as he ran in the fourth heat and finished first with a final time of 1:45.91 seconds.
Symmonds has made news off the track by challenging the ruling regarding athletes not being allowed to wear sponsor logos on Olympic uniforms that aren't officially sanctioned by the IOC. Doing so could get an athlete kicked out of the games.
The Boise, Idaho, native's main competition is David Rudisha from Kenya, the world record holder in the event.
In an interview with the Statesman Journal, Symmonds feels confident that after missing the final at the 2008 games in Beijing, this is his year to medal:
"I've always said, if I'm ever going to win a medal at one of these things, it's going to be London," Symmonds said. "I have the experience now, I have the training. A little bit of luck, and I think I can make the finals and sneak in there for a medal."
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