Villanova Track Star Ready To Shine In Rio
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Villanova track star and junior Pat Tiernen punched his ticket to Rio in dramatic fashion. He will represent Australia on August 17. It came down to one final race in England.
Tiernen had to do well...and he did.
"Just mentally, being able to get yourself up for another hard race is taxing," Tiernen said. His coach, Villanova grad, and 4-time Olympian, Marcus O'Sullivan, couldn't be more proud.
"The good thing about him is that every corner we had to turn, they were bringing something new," O'Sullivan said of Tiernen. "He such a mature athlete, that he's like alright, this is what I need. It never waned, never complained."
Villanova has a great TRACK record when it comes to the Olympics. They have had a participant in every summer games since 1948. Because the event is so late, Tiernen just arrived in Rio on Sunday.
"In my four Olympics, I never made an opening ceremony," O'Sullivan said. As he can explain, it's not always about the timing of the ceremonies, or even medals. Sometimes, it's about the journey, the training and the fight it takes just to make it to the Olympics.
"Obviously it's the pinnacle of our sport," Tiernen said. "It's what you dream about when you're younger and to finally be going; it's unreal."
