Raleigh native Veronica Fraley, a Wakefield High grad, throws for Olympic glory Thursday night in the discus finals.
Her sights are set on Paris, but Fraley's dedication goes beyond the competition.
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Between throws, this brainy athlete is taking classes for her second master's degree.
Discus throw isn't just about power; it's an art form where Fraley excels amidst the usual focus on speed and endurance at the trials.
Fraley's mom, Anita, spoke to WRAL before the finals, surprisingly calm despite the high stakes. She credits Veronica's dedication, which began when she was just 11 years old.
"She already had the drive, the desire, the motivation, the steadfastness, but the technical ability took some teaching," Anita said.
Her dedication at Wakefield High paid off, making her one of the best discus throwers in the country. But it wasn't easy - it took a lot of sacrifice.
"She actually didn't go to her senior prom because she preferred to go to a track meet," Anita said.
Her dedication led her to Clemson and then Vanderbilt, where, earlier this month, she became the NCAA champion in discus.
Veronica's impressive performance carried over to the Olympic trials this week, where she finished the first round in third place, securing her spot in Thursday's final.
"I feed off of her, and so she seems to be calm, so therefore I'm calm," Anita said.
Fraley knows the difference. Veronica made the trials in 2021 but didn't make the team.
She says, her daughter has grown in that time.
"I feel like she's more settled. She doesn't look nervous. ...and she actually feels comfortable participating in that ring," Anita said.
It helps that Veronica is also busy studying for her second master's degree.
Between rounds in Eugene this week, Veronica took two online classes.
"She has majored in Health Sciences and Biomedical Sciences and Human Development," Anita said. "It takes a lot of work. She has always been a disciplined person and has always been self-motivated."
Fraley is clearly proud of all Veronica's achieved to this point, she's hoping for a dream come true.
"That's the goal. Top three get to go to Paris, and that's the goal," Anita said.
She also mentioned that Raleigh has been good to them and it's wonderful to put Raleigh and Wakefield High School on the map for this achievement.