The Contenders

Athletes spend more than 40 hours a week training for the Olympics. Here's a look at a few athletes striving to make the team this year, plus some insight into what makes it worth it.

This is the Director's Cut of a film funded by Dick's Sporting Goods and made in collaboration with Anomaly NY. Featuring Jon Jones (NCAA D1 National Champion - Shotput), Jessica Medina (US World Team and US Open Champion, Wrestling) Desiree Miller (Captain of Team USA Paralympic Basketball), Laura Ryan (2014 NCAA Diver of the Year, USA Diving), N'aithan Scott (5X All American Hurdles).

The Dick's Sporting Goods Contenders program employs these athletes and hundreds more around the country, helping them achieve their Olympic dreams.

Directed by: The Mercadantes
Production Co: Park Pictures
EP: Scott Howard
Producer: Maya Owings
Casting: Jed Hubbard & Jordan Shively

Client: Dick's Sporting Goods
Agency: Anomaly
Producer: Andrew Loevenguth
CD: Seth Jacobs
AD: Bryce Kline
CW: Jeremy Straight

Music: Ryan Taubert & Blake Ewing

Cast: The Mercadantes

Tags: shotput, wrestling, hurdles, paralympics, olympians, olympics, basketball, diving, daniel mercadante, the mercadantes and katina mercadante