Germantown Academy decathlete wins silver at Junior Pan Am Games

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. (WPVI) -- Kyle Garland, a soon-to-be senior at Germantown Academy, took home the silver medal at this weekend's Junior Pam Am Games in Trujillo, Peru.

The 17-year-old competes in the decathlon and he's one of the best in the country. In fact, it was another American who took the gold - University of Texas freshman George Patrick.

Patrick and Garland were neck and neck throughout the competition, ultimately bringing home gold and silver medals for the U.S..

Just last month, Garland qualified for the Junior Pan Am Games. He's the youngest American decathlete ever to qualify for the competition.

We met up with Kyle earlier this month as he prepared for the Games.

"To represent my country, wear these three letters 'USA' across my chest, at a young age, still in high school, it's a humbling experience. It's crazy and it just keeps me humble," Kyle said.

Kyle's coach is his father Keith Garland. Together, they endure long hours, grueling workouts, and the common goal to be the best.

"As a coach, I'm like 'we can go higher.' As a dad, tears in my eyes, chest out, that's me, and that's how I feel about him," Keith said.

The jump to international competition is a huge one, but it's only the beginning. He plans to be leaps and bounds better than anyone in the history of the decathlon.

"Why not him? He's trained, he's focused, he wants it, he's hungry," Keith said.

"I want to be an Olympian and I want to be one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world when I'm done with it. When I'm done, I want to be able to come out and say that I'm the best decathlete to ever do it," Kyle said.

Congratulations on your achievement, Kyle.

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