Gamecocks WR Nyck Harbor opts out of Olympic trials to focus on South Carolina football season

Two-way athlete Nyck Harbor, who is a wide receiver for the South Carolina Gamecocks, qualified for 200 meters for the U.S. Olympic Trials. However, he has decided to not attend the event, which will take place in Eugene, Oregon.

The versatile wide-out has decided to forgo the Olympic Track and Field Trials as he wants to focus on becoming an even better weapon for the Gamecocks' upcoming college football season.

Harbor's decision has surprised many in the athletic community. His 200m time is impressively close to the Olympic standard of 20.16 seconds, highlighting his speed and talent on the track.

As per On3 Sports, Steve Fink, the SID of South Carolina said:

“Coach [Tim] Hall and Nyck looked at the times he had been running compared to the times of some of the others — you obviously have NCAA competitors there, but also the professional guys — basically they determined that the best case scenario is he could maybe reach the semifinals.”

“But the chances of him making the finals were pretty slim, let alone making the actual team. And they kind of determined that the wear and tear on his body wasn’t worth it to do that at this time.”

Fink wanted the young talent to rest his body and recover before kicking off the college football season.

Nyck Harbor is one of the most talented track and field performers in Gamecocks history

With his unique size, 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, Nyck Harbor is considered one of the most impressive and impactful performers to sign with South Carolina. After playing last season's college football games, he prepared for outdoor track, thus missing the on-field portion of spring practice.

His personal best record of 20.20 seconds in a 200-meter dash earned him a spot for the Olympic Trials. Additionally, his 10.11 seconds in the 100-meter also qualified him for the national tournament.

Nyck Harbor is an important player for the Gamecocks as the team wants a skilled replacement for Xavier Legette, who was picked in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Thus, with his size, speed, and football prowess, the Gamecocks will aim to keep the competitive spirit alive in the SEC.