MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the second straight cycle, Abbeville, Mississippi, native Shelby McEwen has jumped his way into the Olympic Games.
McEwen finished atop the podium at the U.S. trials with a clearance of 2.30.
“I’m just excited for the moment, excited for the experience and am ready to just go and jump high," McEwen said.
Jumping to staggering heights has always been a part of McEwen's life, but he never thought that skill would see him become a track star.
“I had intentions on, of course, being an NBA player one day, because basketball was my first love," McEwen said.
In his junior year of high school, McEwen put that love and passion on full display, choosing to play AAU basketball instead of competing in high jump at the State Tournament. That same year he also won the Jordan Brand national dunk competition.
During his senior year, McEwen won State in high jump but he still wasn't ready to put the basketball down. Instead he took his athleticism just down the road to Northwest Mississippi Community College.
“All of a sudden he’s juggling the basketball, next thing you know he’s jumping from inside the free-throw line and dunking or laying up and then he’d go rebound and do other things," NWCC head basketball coach Shane Oakley said.
In two seasons for the Rangers, McEwen scored 260 points, had 46 steals and 17 blocks. But when he wasn't on the court the Mississippi native was on the track competing unattached and schools started to take notice.
McEwen had offers from a lot of major schools including Ole Miss, Michigan State and Auburn. He committed to Alabama where he won a National Championship in high jump.
"We were glad that he came and wanted to be a part of us but we were not naïve enough to think that track wasn’t something that he was really good at and that he could really succeed in," Oakley said.
Once McEwen put the basketball down, success is exactly what followed. He's a 4x U.S. Champion, won silver at the World Indoor Championship earlier this year and in Tokyo he placed 12th. But this Olympics he's ready to jump to new heights.
“I’m in the best shape of my life, the best shape of my career," McEwen said. "So I feel like a new personal best is coming pretty soon.”
McEwen's highest jump this year was 2.33 on February 10, which is tied for fourth highest in the world this year.
“You like to see great things happen to great people and there is no finer young man than Shelby McEwen," Oakley said. "We’re excited for him and excited to have been a part of the journey along the way.”
That journey now sees McEwen head to Paris looking for a slam dunk, jump worthy of gold.
McEwen leaves for Paris on the 24th and the high jump qualifiers will take place on Aug, 7 with the finals set for Aug, 10.