Renton High School graduate Aretha Thurmond is still throwing and working toward qualifying for a fourth Olympic games in 2012.

“In my perspective it’s a big accomplishment,” Thurmond said. “I don’t know how many people have been four times, I’ve never researched it, but it’s a lot of years competing at a high level.”

Thurmond keeps in frequent contact with her throwing coach at Renton, Keith Eager. Some of her favorite memories are at track practice,.

“He and I would just have fun,” she said. “I was learning how to throw and I was one of his first throwers where we really did some big things together. Now he’s one of the best coaches in the state of Washington.”

Thurmond won three state discus titles before graduating in 1994. She went on to compete at the University of Washington where she broke the collegiate discus record (215 feet, three inches) in 1998.

Even though she’s living and training in Auburn, Ala., Thurmond doesn’t feel removed from Renton.

“I keep in touch with my friends from high school. I’m still very much connected to the Renton community,” she said. “A lot of growing happened for me in high school.”