'It's always been a goal': TAMU's Deadmon has eyes on gold in Tokyo

A local athlete will be representing Team USA in a track and field competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Missouri City native Bryce Deadmon, a 2015 graduate of Fort Bend Ridge Point High School, will represent the United States in the 4x400-meter mixed relay.

The mixed relay will be making its Olympic debut in Tokyo, an exercise featuring teams of two men and two women competing against each other in any order they choose.

The competition took place July 30, with the final set for the following evening.

Deadmon was understandably excited about the competition, but he did note that the time difference in Tokyo compared to Texas made it difficult to communicate with family and friends.

“I be wanting to call all my dogs and family but we (are) 14 hours in the future,” he tweeted.

A graduate student at Texas A&M University (TAMU) , Deadmon's name is an entry on the TAMU All-Time Top-12 Performer List.

Deadmon’s career highlights include:

• 2021 SEC Outdoor championship 400-meter runner up
• 2021 NCAA 400-meter runner-up at Hayward Field
• 2021 First Team All-American Outdoor 400-meter, 2nd
• 2021 First Team All-American Outdoor 4x100-meter, 7th
• 2021 First Team All-American Outdoor 4x400-meter, 3rd
• 2021 First Team All-American Indoor 400-meter, 5th
• 2021 First Team All-American Indoor 4x400-meter, 7th

The Tokyo Games are Deadmon's first Olympics.

Deadmon told The Eagle that making the Olympic team was a purpose that he set out to accomplish.

“It’s always been a goal, but I remember at the beginning of 2021, when me and my mom kind of sat down and made a list of goals and aspirations we wanted to make and this was one of my goals and I started kind of realizing how possible it was, considering how fast I was running,” he said. “I was like, ‘Oh, wow, this can actually happen.’”

At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Deadmon ran a 44.96 in the 400, placing seventh in the final and was a part of a 4x400 team that ran a 3:01.64 at the trials.