Former Ruston High Bearcat and current OU Sooner stand-out BJ Green recently competed for the chance to represent the United States of America in the upcoming 2024 Olympics in the men’s triple jump. At 20-years-old, Green was the youngest competitor in his event.
Green shared his story of the competition and his plans moving forward.
Following this interview, Green earned United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Honors.
This conversation has been lightly edited for continuity.
Lincoln Parish Journal: Let’s start at the beginning: when did you receive official word that you qualified to participate in the Olympic Trials?
BJ Green: I actually qualified back during the season in the (Big XII Conference Championship) — I had a mark of 16.46 meters, so I knew for awhile that I had qualified.
LPJ: After you earned bronze in the Track and Field National Championships, what did you do following that to prep for the Olympic Trials?
BJ: Kind of the same thing we had been doing all season — practicing, working on technique, then hitting the weight room. I wanted to make sure that I was maintaining the strength I needed to get through the competition.
LPJ: Would you expand more on the process of what it’s like to try out for the US Olympic team? What are the things you would want people to know about the process?
BJ: For starters, the world’s best athletes are there. Everybody is competing for the same spot as you. So, it’s pretty cutthroat, since only the top three make the team. Everybody there has the same goal in mind and the same mentality. You have to be prepared to compete at the highest level.
LPJ: With everybody competing for the same spots, was there any camaraderie there? Or was it all just business?
BJ: I mean, it depends on the person. You know, some people don’t let it get to camaraderie. They’re strictly business. But you do have others that were willing to go speak to others, but it was more “to each his own.”
LPJ: Being the youngest in the field, what did that feel like for you?
BJ: I’m pretty much used to it. Having to be competitive and going against other guys — it doesn’t really make a difference whether I’m the youngest or the oldest. The same mindset is there.
LPJ: What was the actual day of the event like for you?
BJ: That was everything, man. I got, not only the support of my teammates and those around me, but it also brought support from the ones back home — my family, my friends, old coaches and teammates. They all gathered to watch me compete on the national and global level. They made me feel happy and proud of myself. I loved getting bring all of these people together.
My next goal is to try to make the world team and be able to compete next year.
LPJ: You recently entered into the transfer portal, so have you decided what’s coming next for you?
BJ: When I got into the portal, a lot of people were hitting me up. When I was going through that process, it was a lot different from when I was coming out of high school. This time around, a lot of schools were coming after me because I’m one of the top triple jumpers in the nation. I weighed my options and decided to stay at OU. It’s better opportunity for me if I stay.
LPJ: Thank you for your time.
