ST. LOUIS — A Florissant native and former McCluer North High School student has a shot at Olympic gold in Paris, but his family is struggling to get there to cheer him on.
Freddie Crittenden III will be part of Team USA in the hurdles, crediting St. Louis with much of his hurdling success.
"My peers, my mentors, my friends, the values that I've developed — all of them are rooted in St. Louis," Freddie said.
"What does it mean to you to be part of Team USA?" 5 On Your Side's Annie Krall asked. "You physically have been chasing this goal for years. What does it mean to you to be in this moment?"
"You always wonder, 'Am I ever going to make a team? Am I actually going to do it?' You can only hope for the best," Freddie replied. "To say that I've actually done it is mind-boggling and satisfying."
Freddie already made history in his qualifying race at the Olympic Trials in Oregon. His performance there was the first time in history that the top three finishers of the 110 meter hurdles all had sub 13-second times.
Freddie said it was a life changing moment for him as well as his family.
"I literally had to run out of the room and sit on the couch and say that he's going to break that 13 mark," Freddie's brother Songhai Crittenden said. "He broke it and for me, that's almost like flipping over the couch, jumping up and down doing the splits. Yes, James Browned it, yes I did."
Watching Freddie place fourth, barely missing the podium at last year's world championships, to making the Olympic team was incredible for his mother Cassandra Crittenden.
"This was his purpose — so when you have a purpose it has to be fulfilled," Cassandra said.
But now, she may not have another chance. Freddie's parents and seven siblings need $20,000 to see him run in Paris.
"His Olympic goal has come to fruition — I'm excited," Cassandra said. "To be there is everything. Nothing like being at home on the couch."
Freddie's first Olympics race is Aug. 4 with the finals on Aug. 8.
How you can donate
As of Monday, the Crittenden family still needs about $10,000 to meet their $20,000 goal. You can donate on the family's GoFundMe page.
To raise more funds, the family is also hosting a fundraiser Monday, June 15, at the Hotel Saint Louis where you can donate in person. The family started collecting donations at 5 p.m. and were expected to stay for a couple more hours.