Under the blinding lights of the Armory in New York City, the roar of the crowd was nearly drowned out by the sound of Dylan Beard thundering over the hurdles. Just months earlier, he was slicing turkey behind the deli counter at Walmart. But on February 2024, Beard stunned the track world by clocking 7.44 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles at the Millrose Games, edging out seasoned pros and etching his name into the national conversation. As Beard eyes the 2025 US Nationals, a “powerful force” looms, ready to change his trajectory. Who could it be?
Well, his story might just be getting started. As the 26-year-old prepares for the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships, whispers of a “powerful force” backing his Olympic dreams are growing louder. One voice among them carries significant weight, and he is none other than 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin.
On a recent episode of Ready Set Go, Gatlin makes a special request, “I hope the Walton family is taking care of this young man. You know what I mean?” he said, leaning into the camera. “Real talk, the Walton family is one of the richest families in the world. The people who own Walmart… Take care of that man. He’s out here doing his thing.” So what exactly is the Walton family’s role here, and are they listening?
The Walmart heiress-led family empire is estimated at $432 billion, and their company has long championed stories of hard-working employees. Beard’s loyalty is unwavering. “Walmart’s been with me, so I’m gonna be with them,” he reportedly told Gatlin, a statement that resonated far beyond the track.
Beard’s journey is rare in athletics, where full-time training and sponsorships are often the norm. He balances grueling shifts with workouts, living proof that talent doesn’t always come from the expected places. But with U.S. Nationals looming and Olympic dreams in reach, the question becomes urgent: can passion alone carry him forward?
If the Walton family were to step in, it wouldn’t just change Dylan Beard’s future, it would send a resounding message about investing in raw, homegrown talent. With legends like Gatlin advocating, and fans watching closely, all eyes are now on one of the world’s wealthiest families. Will the billion-dollar empire rise to meet the moment, or let this Cinderella story fade at the starting blocks?
Dylan Beard Slices Meat by Day, Shatters Records by Night
Dylan Beard’s hustle is unreal. A 26-year-old Baltimore native, he’s slicing deli meat at a Walmart in Wake Forest, North Carolina, while chasing Olympic glory. In February 2024, he shocked the track world, winning the 60-meter hurdles in 7.44 seconds, the third-fastest time globally that year, despite a fractured tailbone in high school. “I went in a lot more relaxed, like nothing to lose,” he said. How does he balance this grind?
Beard, a Howard University grad with a master’s in public health, ran for Wagner, Hampton, and Howard, breaking his coach’s 110-meter hurdles record with a 13.31-second sprint in 2023. At the 2024 Olympic trials, he hit 13.19 seconds in the first round but finished fifth in the semifinals at 13.38. His personal best? A blazing 13.10 seconds, ranking him 10th globally in 2024. What’s next for this unsponsored star?
As the 2025 US Nationals approach, Justin Gatlin is rallying for Walmart’s Walton family to sponsor Beard. “Take care of that, man,” . Beard, rocking Walmart gear in Paris, stays loyal. Will the Waltons fuel his Olympic dream?
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