Pewaukee native Jadin O'Brien within reach of Olympic dream
PEWAUKEE, Wis, (CBS 58) -- For Kevin and Leslie O'Brien, competition is nothing new, especially for their daughter Jadin.
"From early on, she's always had the drive," said Leslie O'Brien, Jadin's mom.
Jadin is a multi-event track and field athlete at Notre Dame. She focuses on the pentathlon (which includes the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m run) during the indoor season and the heptathlon (which includes the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin, and 800-meter run) during the outdoor season. As parents, watching Jadin and all that she has already accomplished fills them with joy.
Jadin O'Brien finishes as runner-up in the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships
"Just a proud dad that is amazed at her work ethic and her determination to win," said Kevin, Jadin's dad.
Determination may be the appropriate word for Jadin's last calendar year. The Notre Dame senior's 2023 was riddled with injuries. After winning the 2023 NCAA indoor pentathlon championship, she suffered a stress reaction in her shin and missed the outdoor season. Then after competing with Team USA in the U23 2023 NACAC U23 Championships in Costa Rica and the Thorpe Cup in Germany, the reaction became a fracture causing her to miss fall training. All of this while dealing with a torn ligament in her elbow.
"Stress fracture and a torn ligament so being a multi - when you want to run and jump and throw. I was kind of handicapped on both ends I couldn't do anything," said Jadin O'Brien.
Then she strained her hamstring in her first indoor meet in 2024.
"It's been a lot of ups and downs," said O'Brien.
Despite that, she still recovered to win her second straight NCAA title in the pentathlon during the indoor season. In the outdoor season, she finished second at the NCAA national championships with a career best score.
With all that she accomplished, she credits her faith, ability to recover, her coaches, and her support system.
"I have a great support system. My family is amazing. Shout out to the O'Brien's. Love you guys," said O'Brien. "Thing I'm most grateful for is their support. And the lessons they taught me. To never give up, fight for what I want. To be extremely competitive."
O'Brien is the second oldest of seven kids aged from 12 to 24. She says she learned her competitive spirit from them. Her mother ran track at Bowling Green and her father played football at Bowling Green. It was her mom that introduced her to track at a young age and coached her.
"If my mom is going to be there, then I can do it. And my mom has been there ever since," said Jadin. "Having a parent who understands the sport that you do is really helpful and I'm really grateful for that."
This will be O'Brien's second Team USA Olympic Trials after finishing 12th during the 2021 Olympic Trials. Her scores put in the top 10 of the nation and the top three finishers make the Olympic team. She says her mindset is different for this go around.
"The biggest strategy I have going into the Olympic Trials is to be mentally sound. Be mentally prepared. Trust my body, trust my training, and trust my ability. And then just get after it," said Jadin. "Have fun, stay loose, obviously give it 100%. Glorify God through the process and look at the score at the end."
Both Leslie and Kevin will be making the trip to Eugene, Oregon to watch her compete. Leslie says her nerves will be high, but the excitement level matches that for both parents.
"Just amazing to have all of her hard work and her drive and her purpose for why she does it all come together. It's just rewarding to watch good come from all of that," said Leslie. "We're so proud of her even making it this far to the Olympic trials is quite an accomplishment. So, we're super proud no matter what."
"I just think it's also great for Wisconsin to have somebody at that level participating. Not only representing the greatest country in the whole world, America, but also the Wisconsin pride," said Kevin. "Do your best. go out there lay it on the line. Have no regrets and let the chips fall where they may."
The O'Brien's say the well wishes and prayers from family and friends adds to the excitement and feels like a whole community is behind Jadin. They have not let their mind go to her wearing the Team USA singlet in Olympic competition. Jadin, however, has had moments.
"That's what all the hard workouts are for. All the pain, all the setbacks, that is why I keep going because I have that goal in mind. It's a really fun thought to think and God willing it will happen," said Jadin.
The first heptathlon event over the two days of the event is the 100m hurdles to be held Sunday, June 23, at 12 p.m. and concludes with the 800m run on Monday, June 24, at 8:48 p.m.
- Jadin O'Brien stands atop the podium after winning the pentathlon at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship