Perry Baker's journey to becoming a three-time Olympian in rugby for Team USA followed a period of feeling alone and, in his words, "like a failure." The support of the rugby community, paired with lessons learned as a college football player, helped him persevere and pave a path to Paris, where he hopes to lead Team USA to an Olympic medal.
Growing up, Baker never even dreamed of the Olympics. Football was his calling and his one-way ticket. After a standout football career at Fairmont State, a Division II school in West Virginia, he pursued his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles but failed a physical that unearthed the surprising discovery of a torn meniscus in his knee.
"I never thought anything about anything else but football. I knew I could play in the NFL. I knew that was all I ever wanted. I never had a Plan B, backup, any of that," Baker said. "Then I faced adversity really hard when I got cut from the Eagles and I failed my physical from my torn meniscus."
After a few years with the Pittsburgh Power in the Arena Football League, his hopes of returning to the NFL faded. Baker was forced to reevaluate his path.
It was during this period of uncertainty that rugby emerged as a viable option, thanks to the support and encouragement from coaches at the Tiger Rugby Academy in Columbus, Ohio. The transition from football to rugby wasn't straightforward. Baker spent a year at the academy, learning the intricacies of the sport. Despite the challenges, his football background provided a strong athletic foundation that he could build upon. His speed, agility and work ethic quickly caught the attention of national team coaches.
Baker cited his student-athlete experience as laying the foundation for helping him achieve an unexpected Olympic dream. As a wide receiver at Fairmont State, Baker racked up 90 receptions for 1,552 yards and 19 touchdowns. Baker received All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors twice, including a first-team selection.
In addition to the obvious translatable skills between the two sports — speed, agility and strength, to name a few — Baker cited the work ethic as the biggest carryover.
"I just learned how to work hard," said Baker, who graduated from Fairmont State in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. "Going into Fairmont as a freshman, I was only weighing like 135 pounds. I was so embarrassed I couldn't lift much, but I stayed in the summer and started lifting and working out. Now with rugby, it's so mental. (At Fairmont) I was learning how to train to grind and work it out."
During his time at Fairmont State, Baker excelled as a wide receiver, earning multiple accolades and setting the stage for his future athletic successes. His college experience laid the foundation for his Olympic dreams. (Photo courtesy of Fairmont State)
As Baker moved from football to rugby, he got his break when he was invited to the residency program at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, in 2014. He made his World Rugby Sevens Series debut later that year. This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in his athletic career, one that would lead him to the Olympics and establish him as a key player in American rugby.
Baker was named to the World Rugby's Rookie of the Year short list following the 2014-15 campaign, and he led the USA Eagles in tries scored in 2015-16 with 48. He would go on to be selected to Team USA's 2016 and 2020 Olympic teams.
Reflecting on his journey, Baker emphasized the importance of mental health support. He recalled feeling isolated and like a failure during his low points at the end of his football career and even early in his rugby career.
"I just felt like I was by myself," he said. "I felt like I'm a loser because I went to college, I'm not using my degree, I don't want to go back home to my parents. … Everyone will say I've failed. And I don't know what I'm going to do."
The support he found in the rugby community, however, kept his passion as an athlete alive and inspired his dream of becoming an Olympian after it was announced the sport would return to the Games in 2016.
"I didn't like the way I was feeling. These guys at Tiger Rugby Academy started talking to me when I was breaking down mentally," he said. "They reminded me of my goals and supported me through the tough times. It made a huge difference.
"So many people feel like they're alone," he added. "Having someone that you can talk to or people just that show that they care helps you so much. It helps you kind of get out of a dark place because you feel like you're not alone in this."
Baker, who will be inducted into the Fairmont State Hall of Fame this academic year, is preparing for what he thinks will be his final Olympics with one goal in mind: to earn a medal with and for the community that brought him out of his dark place.
"It means the world to me. I'm more focused on that goal to be on that podium with the team," he said. "I believe we can medal. I believe I'm going to get a medal."
Men's rugby begins Olympics pool play Wednesday, with Team USA opening against France. See the full schedule here and the streaming schedule here.
Baker training with the USA Rugby sevens team. His transition from football to rugby wasn't easy, but his dedication and support from the rugby community helped him rise to the top, leading to his selection for three Olympic Games. (Photo by Will Russell / Getty Images)
