Grit is the embodiment of an unbreakable spirit. It’s a characteristic given to those who are not satisfied with being finished, but in continuing forward when everyone else thinks they’re finished.
David Neville, a Merrillville native and graduate of Merrillville High School, has grit. He’s been honing this passion for perseverance ever since he was a child running track, and the world got to see it on display one rain-soaked evening in Beijing, China when he was competing for an Olympic medal in the 400 Meter Dash.
That night, Neville threw his body across the finish line, sacrificing his body to seemingly dive across the finish line to get what he desired; what he had been working his whole life for.
And he got it, finishing third to secure a Bronze medal.
That night, no one ever doubted the grit of David Neville.
“I feel good knowing I gave everything I possibly could,” Neville told IIMM. “Sometimes we have to put our own bodies on the line and sacrifice. We have to give everything we possibly can to get what is it we desire.”
Now the Northwest Indiana native is getting another opportunity to showcase his mettle to the world on FOX’s AMERICAN GRIT starring WWE’s John Cena. The military-themed reality show teams decorated military heroes with civilians to compete in a variety of survival and military team-oriented challenges.
The perfect opportunity for a competitor like Neville.
“The show features 16 people that are all highly competitive living in a house together and competing against each other on a daily basis,” Neville added. “But the show is really about the team challenges and relying on one another to complete these challenges.”
Or as the show’s military mentors, or “Cadres,” would put it: the “No Man Left Behind” mentality.
And the “Cadres,” Neville says, proved to live to that motto, helping David and the civilian competitors take on all the challenges they faced during the show and doing everything they could to help them achieve things beyond what they believed they could.
“We had great military mentors on AMERICAN GRIT. They were always there for us and gave us suggestions to help us conquer each situation.”
Conquering challenges, to a competitor like Neville, means everything.
“AMERICAN GRIT speaks to who I am. It shows what I am willing to put myself through to achieve my goals.”
And when the show premiers on April 14 on FOX, Neville hopes you get to see the competitive drive forged from Northwest Indiana spirit, and that the community follows along with him.
"I'm thrilled to be able to represent Northwest Indiana! I think my time in The Region as well as the people that influenced my life have helped shape me into who I am and I hope that comes across on AMERICAN GRIT."
AMERICAN GRIT premieres on the FOX network on April 14. For more information about the competitors and the show, visit the show’s official website and Facebook page.