Sam Kendricks brings home bronze, warms America's heart

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (WMC) - It didn't come easy, but Oxford native Sam Kendricks walked away from Rio with a bronze medal in the men's pole vault.

He is also being recognized for his touching response to the national anthem during one of his jumps.

Kendricks is still traveling the world. We caught up with him on Skype during his time in Switzerland.

"Very nice, cool, refreshing, way to take some of that burden off your shoulders that's been there for so long," Kendricks said.

During one of this jumps, Kendricks stopped mid-run and stood at attention. It was something he said came instinctively when he heard the national anthem.

"I said I need to step and find out where it is coming from, so I instinctively took that position like anyone would out of respect, to show proper respect to the flag," Kendricks said.

Kendricks is not only an Olympic athlete, but also a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Reserve.

"I think America was hungry to see that on a world stage from an athlete," Kendricks said.

Kendricks may be done with the Olympics, but he is still a couple of weeks from coming home to Oxford. He is training and looking to compete during the track season.

"We are trying to hold that for the rest of the season because this is where our job is," Kendricks said.

Kendricks is also a graduate from Ole Miss.

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