With a good performance on Sunday, Adrian Peterson can become only the seventh running back in history to rush for 2,000 yards in an NFL season.
But Peterson is thinking beyond football to the track, and now believes he has a legitimate shot at making the U.S. Olympics team in 2016, and at beating world record holder Usain Bolt.
“I can stand up to any challenge. I know a lot of people laugh at me and say, ‘come one now...’” Peterson told Yahoo! Sports. “I want to try for the Olympics, for the 200m and the 400m. That’s a goal of mine that I want to accomplish.”
The 27-year-old, who owns seven NFL rushing records, tore his ACL during a game against the Washington Redskins late last season, but said he had always planned to try his legs at sprinting before being sidelined.
Now that Peterson has recovered to lead the league with 1,898 rushing yards and bring his Vikings team to the threshhold of the playoffs, he believes his goals of making the Olympic team are back on track.
“Now that I’m back, and refreshed, I think I’m going to give it a shot still.”
Peterson said he’d like to “test the waters” as an independent at track meets, including the Penn Relays.
But despite the fact that he’s a world class athlete, a 31-year-old in Rio with a bum knee and little track experience has no chance of making the U.S. Olympic team. And even less of a chance of beating Bolt.
