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Developing Future Olympians
Then I wondered, where did they get their start? They just don’t all of a sudden become Olympians. Many of them get their first opportunities to try sports at their local park district or recreation department. Swimmer Matt Grevers learned to swim at the Gurnee Park District Pool, where his mother was his first coach and he was a member of the Stingrays park district swim team. Bob Willis developed his surfing skills not in Florida or California, but on the shores of Lake Michigan maintained by the Chicago Park District. These are just two of the many athletes that reach the Olympics that started out at their local park district or recreation department. Not everyone who comes through park district programs is destined to be an Olympian, but we all may have our own Olympic-type experience. When I was 12 years old, I ran the 50 yard dash in Forest Park’s track and field day. I won and qualified to race regionally. After winning the regional races, I made it to the finals in Chicago at Hansen Stadium. I won my heats and made it into the finals. The gun went off for the final race and I immediately took the lead and was on my way to victory when, with about 20 yards left, I decided to see how big of a lead I had. As I turned to see where the other racers were, I was able to watch them pass me by and my medal hopes were dashed. I did learn a very valuable lesson that day: Keep your eye on the target and don’t worry about what the others are doing. Even though I didn’t win, it was a great experience. It was my Olympics. It was fun just to participate. A special thanks goes to my coach Mr. Dowd and the Park District of Forest Park for giving me the opportunity to participate in this event. Now flash forward. Think of what park and recreation professionals do each day, and how you introduce young people to a variety of sports, cultural arts, hobbies, and lifelong activities; the impact you have on the lives of young people as they learn through recreation programs and develop their interest in sports and other activities. You may or may not have developed an Olympian, but you have provided many opportunities for children to be introduced to activities and develop their interests. Some of those participants just may become Olympians. The final leg of the Olympic torch was carried by the athletes of the future, symbolizing that someday they will be Olympians. Keep in mind as you produce recreation programs that introduce children to sports, that you could be developing a future Olympian or at least providing that child the opportunity to develop a lifelong interest in a sport. Regardless of their future development, they will all have Olympic-type moments like I did thanks to their local park and recreation professional. - John Curran, IPRA Chairman of the Board |
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