A Blue Point native is hoping his hard work will lead him to represent Long Island at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo next summer.

Jack Flood has been competing in decathlons across the country for five years, winning a slew of awards along the way.

"I train Monday through Saturday ... very grueling training," says Flood. "Two to three hours a day. In the fall usually four hours a day. I've got 10 events to cover."

All of his accomplishments require a good deal of hard work and discipline, but Flood says he wouldn't be able to do any of it without following some core life lessons he has been taught along the way.

"Never settle. Do your best. Wake up every day with a positive mental attitude. That's really the key," says Flood.

The 23-year-old says those words came from some of his coaches, including Roger Kauffman, who first coached him at Bayport-Blue Point High School. Kauffman says he saw something special in Flood early on.

"I said I think you got something there. I think you're better than what you've shown so far," says Kauffman. "It was shortly after that -- not because of what I said -- but because of what he did, he suddenly started putting everything together."

The Olympic trials are next June. Flood must place in the top three to have a place on Team USA.