San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has not wavered in his interest in competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. How dedicated is he to participating next year?
"One hundred percent interest," Goodwin told reporters on Tuesday. "But we're talking about football right now. 2020 next year."
Goodwin says he will find a way to make it happen, and it should not conflict with his commitment to the 49ers. The only problem, other than the chance of injury, is that it will likely coincide with the first couple weeks of training camp. The Summer Olympics begin on July 24, 2020, and conclude on August 9, 2020. While next year's training camp dates are not yet set, this year's is scheduled to kick off on July 26.
Goodwin sees it as an extension of his offseason workout regimen.
"I use it as part of my training," he said. "What I do in the long jump, track and field definitely correlate with what I do as a receiver with being fast, being explosive, putting my foot down. It's the same mechanics that I use in football and track. They go hand-and-hand with each other, at least with my position. I couldn't say that for every position."
Goodwin, 28, is a two-time NCAA long jump champion and posted a broad jump of 11 feet at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. He was a member of the 2012 United States track and field team and finished tenth in the long jump at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Goodwin caught 23 passes for 395 yards with four touchdowns through 11 games and eight starts with the 49ers last season. He is preparing to enter his third season with San Francisco and his seventh in the NFL.
Goodwin confirmed he would also participate in the "Forty Yards of Gold" event at the BB&T Center in Florida on June 29. The pay-per-view event will consist of 16 players taking part in 15 races to determine football's fastest man.
"I look forward to competition anytime," Goodwin said.
Again, the receiver sees this as an extension of his offseason workout regimen.
"I'm going to be running anyways," Goodwin added.
You can watch Goodwin's entire press conference below, courtesy of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Grant Cohn.
