In 2008, 25-year-old Aarik Wilson did his hometown proud when he competed as a triple jumper in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. It was a leap of 57 feet, 2 inches (the length of some sailboats) that qualified him to vie for the gold.
This 6’3″, 195-pound athlete, however, had been surprising people with his ability long before. As a high school senior, he set the Nevada state record at 51 feet, 1 inches. During his years at Indiana University, he became one of the country’s top triple jumpers. In 2007, he hopped, stepped and jumped a personal best — 57 feet, 8 inches.
After Aarik qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team, the Fallon community rallied and helped raise thousands of dollars to fund the trip to Beijing for Aarik’s coach, Wayne Pate, and to launch the Aarik Wilson Track and Field Scholarship.
In Beijing, unfortunately Aarik didn’t make it past the qualifying round to compete in the finals. However, his performance there only makes Fallon residents prouder of their local hero.