Before heading south to Brazil for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Jeremy Taiwo spent Monday at Virginia Mason Athletic Center, where the Pacific Northwest-native decathlete took in the third day of Seahawks training camp.
The 26-year-old Taiwo, wearing a white Russell Wilson jersey, was a practice guest of head coach Pete Carroll, who called on Taiwo to break down the team's huddle at the end of Monday's workout.
"Come on, Jeremy," Carroll shouted out. "Get in here!"
Taiwo didn't hesitate, and proceeded to lead the club in a 'Seahawks' call to close out Seattle's on-field session.
"It's awesome," Taiwo said of his day on the shores of Lake Washington. "It's unreal. It's super cool because I grew up just one exit down there in Kennydale and got to see [VMAC] being built and now it's just sweet to have the Seahawks in my hometown."
Taiwo, an alumni of nearby University of Washington where he competed in track and field, qualified for his first Olympic team last month. His father, Joseph, a former Washington State Cougar, was a two-time Olympian who competed in the triple jump for Nigeria in the 1984 and 1988 games. The younger Taiwo said he's looking forward to representing the Seattle area as his journey continues with USA Track & Field.
"Coming and seeing the Seahawks and just having them extend a welcome to me and just be a part of this, I just felt like it's something more that I can bring down there with me," Taiwo said. "I'm super excited. I'm so pumped."
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