Aries Merritt tries to make Olympic team with new kidney

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2015, file photo, United States' Aries Merritt, center, France's Dimitri Bascou, left, and France's Garfield Darien compete in the men's 110m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. Defending Olympic champion Aries Merritt says he'll go to Brazil if he makes the U.S. team, even though Zika poses a greater risk to him because he's less than a year removed from a kidney transplant. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2015, file photo, United States' Aries Merritt, center, France's Dimitri Bascou, left, and France's Garfield Darien compete in the men's 110m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. Defending Olympic champion Aries Merritt says he'll go to Brazil if he makes the U.S. team, even though Zika poses a greater risk to him because he's less than a year removed from a kidney transplant. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

By Associated Press July 8, 2016 5 min read

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Hurdler Aries Merritt captured a bronze medal at worlds last August with his kidneys operating at barely 10 percent. No wonder he’s beaming at the prospect of competing at full health again.

The chance to defend his Olympic title in the 110-meter hurdles in Rio is a very real possibility. All that’s standing in his way is a top-three finish at U.S. Track and Field Trials this weekend.

Doctors didn’t think Merritt would be ready in time after receiving a new kidney from his sister 10 months ago. They grew even less optimistic when he developed complications that resulted in another surgery – this one to place the kidney deeper into his abdomen.

What the doctors didn’t factor in was Merritt’s passion for this sport, and his desire for an Olympic repeat.

“If I was to win, it would be ugly – I’d be on the track crying somewhere, because of all the pain, all the suffering, all the depression I went through to get to this point,” said the 30-year-old Merritt, who’s the world record holder in the hurdles.