After competing in table tennis in Tokyo, the first stop for Kanak Jha was Cary, North Carolina.
EVERYBODY AND WE COULD GIVE IT A SHOT. >> A CHANCE MEETING THE OTHER DAY IN KERRY. I STOPPED TO GET BREAKFAST, AND STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION WITH AN OLYMPIAN ATHLETE, SOMEONE WHO JUST GOT BACK FROM TOKYO. HE'S A RISING STAR THAT HAS BROKEN BARRIERS IN THIS SPORT. AFTER COMPETING IN TABLE TENNIS IN TOKYO. >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. >> IT'S HIS FIRST TIME BEING IN THE AREA. MANY MARCH, HIS MOM DECIDED TO MOVE TO KERRY. >> I'M PROUD OF HIM AND PROUD OF ALL OF THE OLYMPIANS. I SEE THE AMOUNT OF COMMITMENT AND FOCUS AND DEDICATION HE HAS HAD. >> HE'S A 21-YEAR-OLD TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND WHEN HE QUALIFIED IN 2016, HE WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN BORN TO COMPETE IN THE SUMMER GAMES. >> IT'S REALLY A SHOCK. I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO QUALIFY AT THE TIME, WHEN I MADE IT, IT WAS LIKE A SURPRISE. >> THE FIRST AMERICAN TO DO SO IN TABLE TENNIS. HE DIDN'T MEDAL IN TOKYO, HE HAS PLENTY OF CHANCES AHEAD OF HIM. >> IN TABLE TENNIS I WOULD SAY NORMALLY YOU PEAK AROUND YOURLATE 20s AND EARLY 30s. >> HE WILL BE 28 NEXT OLYMPICS. HE CONTINUES TO TRAIN, MAKE HIS LIVING AS A PROFESSIONAL IN GERMANY AND ONE DAYS SEES HIMSELF COMING BACK TO THE STATES LOOKING TO GROW THE SPORT HE LOVES. >> I'M TRAINING EVERY DAY. I HOPE TO BE AT THE TOP ONE DAY. WE'LL SEE. >> THIS GUY IS ON THE RISE. THE FIRST AMERICAN JUNIOR TO MEDAL AT THE JR. OLYMPICS. WE'LL SEE IF HE WILL BE THE FIRST AMERICAN TO MEDAL AT THE REGULAR OLYMPICS. >> HE'S PRETTY CLOSE TO THE TOP
