The Summer Olympic Games in Rio may just be 43 days away, but June 23 is a day of Olympic celebration no matter when or where the games take place.
June 23 is World Olympic Day and several events celebrated the day and the Olympians and Paralympians who’ve represented the United States on Thursday.
In Fort Worth, that celebration includes an afternoon of activities and inspirational speeches from members of the Southwest Chapter of the Olympians and Paralympians Association.
From 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wilkerson-Grimes Activities Center, those Olympians will team up with student athletes from Rising Stars Youth Leadership Academy Fort Worth.
Before the athletes worked out with future Olympic hopefuls, leaders of the association, academy and community gathered for a VIP brunch to celebrate Olympic Day.
The keynote speaker for the event was Fort Worth’s own Khadevis Robinson, an Olympian who participated in track and field in both 2008 and 2012. He last took to the track in London and is now an assistant coach for the LSU track team in Baton Rouge.
Robinson attended Trimble Tech High School and credits the great coaching he got there for his success in running track. As a coach and Olympian, he hopes to spread that message to the next generation of Fort Worth Olympic hopefuls.
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“Having events like this, that kids say, ‘Oh, I can dream about being in the Olympics, I can dream about getting my PhD, I can dream about doing these things because someone where I’m from has already done it,’” Robinson said. “That puts them on the trajectory that the skies the limit.”
Given Robinson's coaching position, he likely won't attend the event as high school students may be there and that could violate NCAA rules. Children 12 to 18 are encouraged to attend, however.
