VIDEO: In just over a year, Team USA will join Olympians from all over the world in Tokyo, Japan. A firefighter in Clayton County hopes to be among them.
Mikel Thomas said a career that depends on fast reactions will help them achieve that goal.
Thomas is is one of Clayton County's finest and can get suited up to fight fires - fast.
"I can get it done in like 90 seconds," he said.
But that's nothing compared to his time on the track.
"Oh, 13 seconds," he said.
Thomas started with the Clayton County Fire Department 18 months ago. But he's also a three time Olympian. He's started his career in 2008, and has been competing for Trinidad and Tobago as a hurdler.
"It's a very different rush, I would say. Between standing in a stadium of 50,000 people between literally looking a fire in its face. They are two different things," Thomas explained. "But, I think they prepare me for each other."