West Allis native Chase Reichmann among Olympic Contenders for Team USA skating

West Allis, WI (CBS)-Two weeks and counting for West Allis native Chase Reichmann who is a contender to make it to the Winter Olympics.

"I've put a lot of things on hold for this," Reichmann tells CBS 58 News. "But sports have made me a better person. Sports makes people better."

Reichmann stopped by the CBS 58 studios in between workouts at the Pettit Ice Center.

He says he feels better positioned than ever before and ignores distractions like the recent news about the Russian being disqualified because of doping.

"I just stay focussed on myself and my morals in sports."

Reichman came back to Wisconsin after spending some time in Utah, specifically for training to compete at the speed skating trial for a chance to go to Pyeongchang and represent the U.S.A.

But how do you keep food on the table given the rigors of training for the Olylmpics?

For the past few months, Chase has worked at DICK’S Sporting Goods through the company’s Contenders Program.

It allows him to keep flexible hours with a competitive wage.

Dick's is Team USA’s official sporting goods retail sponsor, but wanted to show that it understands the struggle of these amateur athletes.

Some 100 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls are employed in the program.