A 35-pound ball rests on the end of a foot and a half long chain that is attached to a large equilateral triangular handle.

It looks heavy.  In fact, it is.

But in the hands of Maj. Michael Mai - who stands 6'4" tall and weighs in at 255 pounds - the ball, chain and handle are handled with ease combined with massive strength.

At the Washington Husky Invitational Indoor Track & Field Meet held in January, Mai threw the 35-pound weight 75 feet, 8 inches to establish a personal indoor record. The throw qualified Mai for the U.S. indoor championships to be held in Albuquerque, N.M.

"I enjoy the competition, and I would like to represent the Army and United States on the 2012 Olympic Team," said the commander of the 9th Financial Management Company.

Mai works with the Army World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP.

The program's mission is to provide soldiers with high national ranking or world-class potential the opportunity to train in order to compete for a place on the U.S. Olympic Team.

The 35-pound weight throw is mainly contested during indoor meets. The hammer throw - which features a longer chain - is contested in outdoor meets.

Mai finished fifth in the 2008 Olympic Trials and qualified for the U.S. World Outdoor Championships in 2009 in the hammer throw. His best hammer throw is 250 feet, 3 inches. With his recent efforts in the 35-pound weight throw, Mai is ranked seventh in the nation.

"Sixth and fifth places are one and three centimeters ahead of me, and the next two are less than a foot ahead, so it's really a tight field," commented Mai.

He concentrates on lifting weights during the week and throwing on the weekends.

His company's mission comes first, and Mai is prepared to lead his soldiers should they deploy.

"If I deploy, it will be hard to train," he said.

Acknowledging that he is a soldier first and an athlete second, Mai is quick to point out that the Army has been generous in making his athletic dreams come true.

"The Army can help you get ahead; it does not prevent you from doing so.  This is a message not just for athletes and soldiers but for everyone," said Mai.