TOKYO, Japan -- With the 2020 Summer Olympic games in Tokyo drawing near its end, the 2020 Paralympics are set to begin this August 24th. Trenten Merrill ('15), a member of the Cougars Track & Field program from 2012 to 2014, will be representing the United States of America as the current American record-holder in the long jump and will also be competing in the 200m. Merrill finished just off the podium in the 2016 Rio Paralympics with a fourth place finish in the long jump but most recently won the gold medal at the 2019 Parapan American games.

"It was a tough competition, I got sick and was dealing with some back pain," Merrill said, "But, I was really happy to get a gold medal and represent USA. That's something I've been wanting to do and so it was a great moment."

Merrill is looking to carry that success with him into a podium finish in this summer's Paralympics as he is currently ranked second in the world heading into the games. He's also broken the American long jump record four times, including most recently at a meet in Chula Vista, Calif. where he jumped the current record of 7.75 meters.

"It was an awesome feeling," Merrill said, "When you pop off one of those really big ones, you can feel that difference. It's one of those things where it's like I can't wait to go do that again."

Just like any other kid growing up, Merrill dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. In middle school, he was originally a soccer player, volleyball, and raced motocross before a tragic dirt bike accident at the age of 14 led to the amputation of his lower right leg that brought all of his dreams to a halt.

It wasn't for another five or more years before Merrill's track & field journey actually did begin. While attending Saddleback College and trying to figure out what career he wanted to pursue in life, Merrill found he still had the burning desire for athletic competition.

"Those were the first years of my life I wasn't competing in sports," Merrill said, "I didn't have a lot of direction (in life), I was still super competitive but I didn't know about the Paralympics." 

Merrill decided to attend a running clinic in Irvine, Calif. that was put on by the Challenged Athletes Foundation where he met the United States paralympic head track & field coach Joaquim Cruz. That's where Merrill was first introduced to the paralympics but wasn't truly interested in the idea at the time and waited a month before reaching back out to coach Cruz. But once he did reach out, coach Cruz immediately invited him to a developmental camp in Chula Vista, Calif. at the Olympic Training Center. Once Merrill arrived to the facility, he felt God's provision over his life and a new dream began.

"That's when I was like, 'Okay God I see what you're doing'," Merrill said, "And it's cool now because I live there and that was one of my goals. I wanted to be there living and training full-time."

For Merrill, he thought his next step towards the Paralympics was at the University of Colorado, Boulder where he planned on training and competing with their track & field team. But, shortly after arriving on campus things took a turn for the worst after the head coach at CU essentially thought of Merrill as a "liability." Merrill continued to train by himself throughout that time while leaning on God for some sort of answer. 

"Through that time, I was listening to the Lecrae station on Pandora, and Azusa Pacific University kept coming up on the commercials," Merrill said, "I didn't think anything of it, but then one day I was reaching into my pile of clean clothes and I pulled out an Azusa Pacific Track & Field shirt that was from a gift from a former (APU) athlete John Ellis. That's when I was like 'Woah God, I gotta check out Azusa'. Coach (Kevin) Reid got back to me immediately and I decided to move."

After competing and training at Azusa Pacific for multiple years, Merrill's work ethic helped him improve his marks greatly. But with the Paralympics on his mind, Merrill continued to strive to get better to qualify for the national team in multiple events.

"It did not come quick or easy," Merrill said, "I kept getting better and I kept progressing but was still falling short. I believed in myself and it was one of those things where I'm so happy God encouraged me. It just took time man, and I never gave up."

Eventually, Merrill qualified for the team as a long jumper which has become his primary event for the last three or four years. However, Merrill has always had a passion for competing in multiple events and qualified for the men's 200 meter race at this summer's Paralympic games. 

"I love APU and I'm super thankful that I was able to compete and represent APU," Merrill said, "And I'm happy to represent APU on the world stage."

His quest for the podium in the long jump at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games will begin on Wednesday, September 1. For the 200 meter race, his prelim race is in the morning on Saturday, September 4 with the final following later that same night. 

For the long jump and 200 meters, he will be competing under the T64 designation (for scheduling purposes). The long jump schedule for Sept. 1 can be found here, while the 200 meters schedule for Sept. 4 can be found here.

The best way to stay up to date is to follow Merrill on Instagram here and you can stream his events on NBCsports.com. Stay tuned for more details.