Nineteen-year-old javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott, or the "The Beast" as he's called, never gives up, his father, Endy King, said yesterday.

His mother, Beverley Walcott, said she was nervous at home on Wednesday as her son qualified as an Olympic finalist in the third round of the men's javelin Group B qualifying competition at the Olympic Stadium in London, England.

Yesterday, Beverley said her son always achieves what he sets out to do.

And tomorrow when he lines up as one of 12 men in the men's javelin final at the London 2012 Olympics, Walcott has told his mother he will be going after a top eight finish.

At Walcott's home in Trois Roche Village, a small community of about 25 homes in Toco, King said he was ecstatic about his son's performance.

"I went to school at Toco Composite (School) and it was part of my dream, but just at the time, the opportunity was not there, but as a father, I feel excellent that my son reach at that stage (Olympic final), and I am hoping right now he could go further," he said about his son, who is the World Junior javelin champion and who switched from triple jump to javelin throwing after his coaches at the school, including John "Slim" Andalcio, Neril Serapio and aunt Anna Lee Walcott saw the triple jump was not working out and he might be more successful with the javelin.

"I always had that confidence. He has a nickname around here—"The Beast"; he always gives it his all and goes that extra mile.... Everybody in Toco feels proud of him, and as a father, I feel really proud, too," King said, adding that on the community radio station Radio Toco, everybody was calling in and congratulating the young field athlete after the event.

Peter Stewart, a relative, said Walcott moved to live in San Juan a few years ago to be able to access better training and facilities at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

He said people in Toco were glued to their television sets to watch Walcott, a member of the Rebirth Club, make his 81.75 metre javelin throw to get into the finals.

The Express met mom Beverley in her workplace at Hambug Hollows, a beach resort in Hambug Trace, Toco, minutes after speaking to his father.

Beverley said she spoke to her son, who she calls "Keshy", yesterday morning in London, and he told her he will be working to improve his position.

"He said he would be trying to get into the top eight, but I told him I need him to bring me back those flowers," she joked, referring to the bouquet awarded to medal winners at the London Games.

"He said he didn't know about that, about reaching that far, but he would try his best."

His mother said she felt like she was getting a heart attack at home during the qualifying javelin event, but at the end, she felt great, very proud and very excited, adding she cried when she was talking to her aunt after Walcott qualified for the final.

"He would like to get further; it was a great experience; he is fine...being in the final; he has accomplished so much. Keshy works hard, so hard and deserves it," she said.

Asked if his achievement was unexpected, Beverley said: "No, since he started doing (javelin), he gives it his best and always expects the best and does everything he needs to achieve .... He is happy to have made the finals, and I don't think he would ask for any more, but if there is a plus, of course, it is welcomed," she said.