Wake Forest Olympic hopeful gets $20,000 toward dream from Today Show

Olympic coverage in Paris starts in just 91 days and athletes are getting ready to perform on the biggest stage in the world.

An NC State athlete and Wake Forest native hopes to be among them.

Hurdler Dylan Beard is coming off a monster victory at a major track and field competition in New York City in February. The 25-year-old blew past the competition and broke records, becoming the third-fastest hurdler in the world. He punched his ticket to the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in June.

Beard trains at NC State. When he's not training or competing, he's working at the deli section at Walmart in Wake Forest.

Beard was blown away when the Today Show's Craig Melvin gave this special surprise alongside his squad of supporters.

"Thanks to our friends at Walmart, we've decided to give you $20,000," Melvin said. "We want all these folks to be able to cheer you on."

Beard needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

"I'm appreciative, very appreciative, very unexpected, and I'm thankful," Beard said.

Beard doesn't have a sponsor and didn't qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championship while at Howard University getting his master's degree.

But he qualified for the Olympic trials! We are wishing him all the best at the trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June.