Triple Threat: Wyoming Area’s Taylor Gashi Qualifies for Junior Olympics in Heptathlon, Triple Jump, and Discus
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | July 2, 2025
From Student to Standout: A June to Remember
The calendar may have read June, but for Taylor Gashi, it felt like April through August combined. Sweating through military-style drills at West Point, then hopping into her track shoes just days later, she completely rewrote expectations—both hers and everyone else’s.
For many, training for just one AAU event is a challenge. But for Taylor, that meant heptathlon, triple jump, discus, followed by back-to-back meets at District and Regionals. In the process, she became Wyoming Area’s latest athletic superstar—and earned her first ticket to the 2025 AAU Track & Field Junior Olympics in Houston.
“I not only felt accomplished as I didn’t have set expectations since it was a lot of firsts for me, but I was also extremely grateful that I even had the opportunity to be in that position,” Taylor explains, her voice a mix of pride and humility.
A Heptathlon Debut Unlike Any Other
Make no mistake: the Heptathlon is more marathon than sprint. Seven grueling events, each testing a different facet of an athlete’s physical and mental prowess. Taylor stepped onto that field as a newcomer—and emerged on the podium.
“The most challenging part was learning how to only focus on one thing at a time,” she says. “You can’t be thinking about the next event when you’re halfway through the one you’re currently doing. It’s also pretty challenging to erase a mistake so it doesn’t affect the rest of your performance.”
She didn’t just erase errors—she marched past them.
“My mindset was to do and erase,” Taylor recalls her coach telling her. “No matter if it was a good or bad performance, I should erase it and put my all into the next event.” And she did.
That laser-like focus transformed her debut into a 3rd place finish, punching her ticket to Houston in her very first attempt.
Triple Jump & Discus: Mastery in Multiples
Two of her biggest strengths came from the field —
Triple Jump: explosive and precise.
Discus: powerful and technical.
It’s rare to find athletes who can do both, let alone excel.
“To train for diversity, I hit almost every different drill or lift to build different skills needed for the variety of events I do,” she explains. “In one practice—whether it’s club or high school—I can go from a sprint workout straight to jumping or throwing.”
Every muscle, every skill, every discipline.
“I lift on the side at Fame Strength to keep my general strength where it needs to be,” she adds.
At Regionals, she knew that the podium wasn’t out of reach.
“Going into the second day of the Heptathlon, I was sitting at a solid fourth place… top three qualify. I was about to compete in two events that I’m very strong in and one completely new event for me. I was very confident… I knew if I kept my mental state calm I could qualify.”
Her composed mindset carried her through all three events—Heptathlon, Triple Jump, Discus—into the national finals.
A Leadership Experience That Prepared Her Inside & Out
Just days before her qualifying performance, Taylor returned from a transformative week at the U.S. Military Academy’s Summer Leadership Experience (SLE) at West Point. It was more than a camp—it was a crash course in grit, teamwork, and selflessness.
“My experience at West Point was something I won’t ever forget,” she says. “It was an honor to be at a place of such high standards and values with like-minded people around me. I had an extreme sense of what leadership is and what it’s like to be a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Despite the long days—MIL drills, early mornings, tactical exercises—Taylor emerged more focused than ever.
“It made me enjoy hard work more than I did before because I know it all has a purpose,” she reflects. “It made it easier for me to push myself into uncomfortable situations.”
And when she returned to Wyoming Area, climbing into stadium-ready form, she carried with her that mindset of persistence and purpose.
Time, Training & Discipline: How Taylor Gets It All Done
Juggling school, travel, tough workouts, leadership programs, and high-pressure meets could bring anyone to their knees. But not Taylor.
“It was definitely challenging,” she admits. “But I was able to manage the balance because I know I’m doing it all for a purpose and it will be worth it in the long run. Set schedules really help — I know when I’ll be doing things every day so that I don’t miss anything.”
Her secret? Consistency—on the track and in life.
“The people around me also keep me motivated because I surround myself with people who also have aspirations.”
Community and accountability, combined with her fierce personal standards.
“Personally, I have to take really deep breaths and take a moment to step back and regroup,” she adds—knowing that composure matters when the stakes are highest.
Looking Ahead to Houston: Hope, Goals & Potential
As Taylor sets her eyes on Houston, Texas, she’s clear about what matters most: giving her all—without holding back.
“My goals are to put everything out on the line and not hold back. I’m there to compete with myself and see if I can better myself. I also just want to have fun!”
At just 17, she sees more than medals—she sees potential. And though college is still a few steps away, she’s already thinking about balancing high standards in both academics and athletics.
“I want to maintain what I have going currently. I hold myself at a high standard for both academics and athletics and would love to keep that going in college no matter where I end up.”
Family & Values: What Fuels Taylor’s Fire
Behind her standout performances are the pillars of her life—her parents.
“My Mother and Father have both been inspiring to me in totally different ways… I get my values and morals from them, as well as the motivation to keep going.”
It’s clear that Taylor’s achievements aren’t just her own. They belong to everyone who’s believed in her—from her coaches to teammates, her family, and the Wyoming Area community.
What Taylor’s Story Teaches Us
Taylor Gashi is not simply an athlete. She’s a force of will, a beacon of leadership, and a living example of what discipline can turn into. She shows us that:
You can excel in multiple areas—academics, athletics, leadership—without surrendering one for another.
Mindset is more than motivation; it’s the difference between giving up and giving everything.
Every mistake is a moment to reset—not a moment to dwell.
What Coaches Are Saying: The Grinder in the Gym
While Taylor Gashi’s success is clearly visible on the track and field, it’s what happens behind the scenes — in early morning lifts and late-night drills — that tells the full story. At Fame Strength, where she supplements her athletic training with focused strength work, her work ethic hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“She’s a grinder… every session she comes in super focused and ready to tackle the next challenge,” said a Morgan Briggsfrom Fame Strength. “She always asks the right questions and truly wants to improve herself every day.”
This behind-the-scenes dedication is what fuels Taylor’s ability to train across multiple events, switch between mental modes, and compete at such a high level. It’s not just talent — it’s tenacity, built one rep, one question, one challenge at a time.
When she starts her events in Houston, there’ll be more than talent on display — there’ll be heart, intentionality, and the kind of balanced excellence that can change everything.
