Gil Stovall, a swimmer who participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 200m butterfly, came to share with our 3rd graders what life as an Olympic athlete is like.
He shared about
- the intense practice schedule – 5:30 a.m. for a “wake-up swim,” every single day.
- the unusual eating habits – six eggs, a half-pound of bacon, and three bowls of cereal, just for breakfast!
- the tens of thousands of dollars in swag that every Olympian received from Polo, Speedo, Nike, and other brands.
Mr. Stovall poses with two WA 3rd graders who swim under his coaching at Memphis Tigers Swimming.
Our 3rd graders got the chance to hear stories about Mr. Stovall’s interactions with Michael Phelps, Lebron James, and other Olympians who were in Beijing. He shared that the spirit of competition and friendship was very evident in the Olympic village, even between athletes who didn’t speak the same language. That message resonated with our 3rd graders since they were about to participate in their own Olympics the following day. Competition and friendship certainly were the hallmarks of the 2015 WA 3rd Grade Olympics!
Why Westminster 