HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — If you watch Evan Boykin train, you'll see he's an athlete, always pushing himself to be and do better in practice.

What You Need To Know

  • At 3 years old, breathing became difficult for Evan Boykin

  • In the coming years, he would be diagnosed with severe asthma

  • Now, at 13 years old, he's not letting asthma stop him and is going for gold in the 2028 Olympics

What you may not immediately notice is Boykin has severe asthma, making his training look a little different.

"Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe, I can’t get enough air into my lungs. I feel like I’m weak, I’m just held back by my asthma," Boykin says.

Boykin says he started experiencing symptoms at 3 years old. Now at 13, he's not letting his training hold him back.

He holds the fastest times in the state for the 100 meter and 200 meter and he's not stopping there.

"My goal this year is to make it to the Junior Olympics, get All-American at least first place, I want to get national champion," Boykin says.

And for the future, he has his eyes set on the 2028 Olympics.

Four times a week, you'll find Evan in the gym or running for the Charlotte Heat Track Club, always carrying his inhaler nearby. 

He says he takes two pumps before practice and does modified training so he can run like his idol Noah Lyles, who gave him his running cleats when he found out he was a big fan.

"When he ran a 19.5 it really surprised me, I was like, 'Oh, he's the real deal! He’s going to be big one day'," Boykin exclaims.

Boykin says he too will be a big deal and tells Noah Lyles, he should watch his back.

"I want to meet him, I want to beat him one day," he says. 

After the 2021 Olympics, Boykin will get his dream to meet Lyles in person thanks to nonprofit Dream on 3.