Desirea Buerge is set to compete in the discus at the U.S. Olympic Trials June 18-19 at Oregon's Hayward Field. During the two weeks leading up to the event, we are posting a series of stories on Buerge in order to help celebrate her accomplishment and let fans get to know her better.
 
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – After 57 years, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) seeks to return to Tokyo for the Summer Olympic Games.
 
This year, Desirea Buerge is trying to make Team USA in the discus throw. In 1964, Luke Jackson was part of the gold medal-winning USA men's basketball team.
 
From 1961-64, Jackson was a dominant force for the legacy institution Pan American College men's basketball team.
 
As a junior, Jackson averaged 26.4 points and 18.6 rebounds per game to lead his team to an NAIA National Championship. He earned NAIA Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
 
Jackson returned for his senior season and guided the team back to the NAIA Championship game.
 
His collegiate success led him to join forces with future Basketball Hall of Famers Bill Bradley, Larry Brown and Head Coach Henry Iba for Team USA at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
 
"It's always good to represent your university and also the United States," Jackson said.
 
Team USA defeated Australia, Finland, Peru, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Brazil, South Korea and Puerto Rico on their way to a championship matchup against the Soviet Union.
 
Jackson helped Team USA bring home the gold as he scored a team-high 17 points in a 73-59 victory against the U.S.S.R.
 
 "We had great athletes from the U.S. and all the other countries had great athletes," Jackson said. "We mingled well. We played against each other – had no problems – and everything went well."
 
After the Olympics, Jackson had a strong eight-year NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers that included an NBA Championship, but winning gold is a memory he will never forget.
 
"We were all on the podium and received our gold medals," Jackson said. "You are in a foreign country and you listen to your national anthem being played. That meant a lot to me at that time."
 
To this day Jackson is the only UTRGV student-athlete to compete in the Olympics.
 
Buerge has an opportunity to become the second Olympian from UTRGV as she looks to qualify in the discus Friday and Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
 
"It'd mean the world to me," Buerge said. "It's been a goal of mine to get to the Olympics in one sport or another. Now that I have that opportunity to show out and be a part of that atmosphere, it's an honor."
 
Few athletes have the honor of being named an Olympian.
 
As Buerge competes to enter an exclusive club in sports, Jackson's advice to her was simple.
 
"To make it to the Olympics, you have to train hard and be ready when the bell rings," Jackson said.
 
If Buerge qualifies for the Olympics, Jackson wants Buerge to take in the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but not forget every athlete is vying for glory.
 
"Once you get to the Olympics, it's just like being on campus," Jackson said. "You have the parade of athletes and the fun stuff that goes around you, but you have to do your job when your time comes. Everybody wants to win. That's why we go there, because everybody wants to win."

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