Detroit Lions host watch party to support Olympic hurdle Melissa Gonzalez, wife of QB David Blough

ALLEN PARK, Michigan – The Detroit Lions didn’t just go their separate ways after day three of training camp, they banded together to support a teammate.

The team hosted a watch party Friday night to see Melissa Gonzalez – the wife of quarterback David Blough – advance to the Olympic 400-meter hurdles semi-final in Tokyo. She ran a 55.32, which set a Colombian national record.

It was a birthday present for Blough, who turned 26 on Saturday.

“You don’t always get that type of experience, but for me it just embodies the fun of riding because it was pretty cool,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said at Saturday’s press conference. “It was a while, I can tell you that.”

Gonzalez represents Colombia. She was born and raised in the United States, but has dual citizenship and qualifies for Colombia because her father, Hector, left the country to play basketball at UTEP for legendary coach Don Haskins. .

Before leaving training on Friday, the Lions set up a camera for players to leave the field to send their congratulations to Gonzalez via social media, including fellow quarterback Jared Goff.

“David never talks about you, we have no idea what’s going on,” Goff joked before seriously encouraging him to “do your thing.”

Blough posted a photo of his wife in his Instagram Story after her performance with the caption “My Heart!” while thanking the Lions “for all that you have done”.

Gonzalez played on the track in Texas and was a teammate with nine-time All-American hurdler Morgan (Snow) Goodwin, wife of Chicago Bears wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. Blough and Gonzalez were childhood sweethearts who both attended Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas.

In May, she set the Colombian national record for the event (55.68) at the South American Championships.