EUGENE, Ore. -- Sixteen years ago, Wisconsin women's track and field thrower Kelsey Card started to dream about competing in the Olympics after hearing a classmate's aunt address Card's grade-school class about sailing in the 2000 Summer Olympics.

"I was just a kid and didn't know what it meant to be an Olympian, but I thought it sounded awesome," Card said about her experience in grade school. "Even though it was sailing, which I don't know anything about, that's when I realized that it was a big deal."

Card's Olympic dreams came true on Saturday at Hayward Field, as the UW senior finished third in the discus at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials to earn a spot on Team USA for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"Kelsey took no short cuts to be the best she could be," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "Her work ethic and commitment to her craft has paid off with the realization of her Olympic dream. Congratulations to her and also throws coach Dave Astrauskas."

"Kelsey is so deserving of this accomplishment," Astrauskas said. "I am so excited for her, she has made many sacrifices over the last couple of years and I'm so happy that it has all paid off.

"She is so coachable and has been a pleasure to work with the past five years."

Card's best throw came on her first attempt of the day, as she threw the discus 197 feet, 3 inches at to grab one of the three spots on the U.S. team that's heading to Rio de Jainero next month.

"Honestly, by first throw was my best throw, which isn't ideal," Card said. "It's funny as Dave and I were joking about my first throw is never my best throw, but we proved that wrong today. I wasn't the hitting the positions that I have been hitting on my good throws.

"But the goal was to be top three, no matter how I ended up there. Even though it was an ugly battle, I stuck it out, weathered the storm and ended up finishing third."

Whitney Ashley won the competition with a toss of 204-2, while Texas A&M's Shelbi Vaughn was second with a mark of 197-9 as Ashley, Vaughn and Card will all make their Olympic debuts next month with Team USA.

Card held the third spot after the first three rounds of throws as the top-eight competitors advanced to the final round, where they received three more throws.

A few competitors came close to knocking Card out of the third spot, including former Minnesota thrower Liz Podominick, who threw 197-1 on her fifth throw, two inches shy of Card's mark. 2008 Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton threw 195-8 on her final attempt to finish fifth.

But once Stanford's Valarie Allman fouled her final attempt and only Card, Vaughn and Ashley were left, Card knew that her Olympic fate was set.

"I was scared about Valarie and Stephanie, because they both had the Olympic standard," "They both could whip one out and I have looked up to Stephanie for years. When Valarie didn't get the mark, I felt a sense of relief. Going into finals, I wanted to be in one of those three spots so I would have the luxury going into my last throw knowing if I would make it or not."

Card became the seventh athlete in program history to earn a spot in the Olympics and will join former UW track standout and elite triathlete Gwen Jorgensen in this year's Olympics. Card also becomes the first UW athlete to compete in a field event at the Olympics.

"It's incredible to join that elite group of athletes that have competed at the Olympics for UW," Card said. "I have loved being a Badger and have loved all of it. It is really exciting for the program to help me get here and for me to give back."

Card will compete in the discus at the 2016 Summer Olympics on Monday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

In addition, the UW senior also looks to earn a spot on Team USA in the shot put, as she throws on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Hayward Field.

Olympians - Wisconsin Women's Track & Field
- Cindy Bremser (USA) - 1984
- Suzy Favor Hamilton (USA) - 1992, 1996, 2000
- Kathy Butler (Canada, Great Britain) - 1996, 2004
- Gwen Jorgensen (USA) – 2012, 2016 (Triathlon)
- Egle Staisiunaite (Lithuania) – 2012
- Hilary (Edmondson) Stellingwerff (Canada) – 2012
- Kelsey Card (USA) - 2016