PARIS, France — When DeAnna Price competes for her fist Olympic medal this week, she will have a whole community behind her.
Price is competing in the hammer throw in Paris, her third Olympics in the discipline. She finished third in qualifying on Sunday with a throw of 73.79 meters, surpassing the automatic qualifying distance of 73 meters with her second throw.
In the final round, Price threw 71.00 in her best attempt. She placed 11th of 12.
Editor's note: The above video aired in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
She joined 5 On Your Side's Rene Knott in the stands of the Stade de France and she had a tearful message for her community back home in Moscow Mills.
"I love you guys, you're my family," she said holding back tears. "Coming from a small town and just a very humble community, Lincoln County, Moscow Mills, Troy, Olm Monroe, I mean, they're my family."
Price said she owes so much to her community, especially after they answered the call she put out earlier this year.
After qualifying for the Olympics, Price set up a GoFundMe page to help get her family to Paris to watch her compete. After more than $11,000 in donations, her parents were able to make the trip.
"I want to thank everyone who helped get my family here, because I saw my mom and dad up there and that meant the world," she said. "And when I knew that they were there and got to be a part of that experience, then I knew let's get it done."
Price competed in an empty stadium in Tokyo and finished eighth. Her performance was hampered by a bone bruise on her ankle and a torn hip labrum. Now, she is feeling good and ready to go for the gold.
Price has a career-best throw of 80.31 meters, which is better than all three medal-winning throws from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.