PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — When the gloves go on, Jahmal Harvey is ready to answer the bell.
"You have to be mentally and physically prepared at all times," Harvey said.
That preparedness has made the 20-year-old amateur boxer a world champion. In 2021, Jahmal won gold in the feather weight division, making him the first American to win a world title since 2007. But for Jahmal to become a champion inside the ring, he first had to say goodbye to his first love.
"I was always into football. I swear I was going to make it to The NFL,” Jahmal said. “My football coach started the gym. He told me to come up. I tried it out. I was doing both sports. And then I chose boxing."
And it appears Jahmal made the right choice. He's accomplished all his boxing goals - including qualifying for next year's Olympics.
Harvey recently won the gold medal at The Pan American Games in Chile, punching his ticket to The 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Mom and Dad couldn’t be prouder.
Jahmal’s Dad Jamarr Moody said, "To go to the Olympics, aw man... that's like hitting the lottery man and how many can say they hit the lottery?"
"My emotions are so high only because he set a goal,” Kim Harvey, Jahmal’s Mom said. “He said to himself that I want to be an Olympian. He set a goal, and he accomplished it. For that, I am forever grateful."
Jahmal says, one day he plans to turn Pro but right now, the only thing that matters is bringing home an Olympic Gold medal.
"It really means a lot to go get a gold medal for my country. Not every professional gets a chance to do that, including players who make it to The NBA. It's still hard to go out and get an Olympic gold medal. So, it means a lot to me.