Olympian Tells Kids: Listen to Your Coaches

Jan 27, 2010

 Olympian Tells Kids: Listen to Your Coaches

Cary, NC - Three-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming Ryan Lochte visited with young athletes on Friday at Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC). Almost 1000 kids and parents showed up for Lochte’s inspirational chat and to get autographs from one of the hero’s of the ‘08 summer games.
 
Lochte, who lives and trains in Florida, is sometimes over-shadowed by his USA teammate Michael Phelps. But the swimmer from the Sunshine State is a true champion in his own right. Lochte has 6 Olympic medals (3g, 1s, 2b), winning gold in both ‘04 and ‘08. He holds several world records and swims 5-6 hours a day, 6 days a week, according to USA Swimming.
 
Over 1,000 people turned out at TAC, filling the spectators gallery. Lochte told the crowd his story about him not taking swimming seriously as a kid and then in High School, deciding to set goals and focus on swimming. That’s when his performance excelled.  The Olympian emphasized three points for the crowd:
  1. Listen to your coaches
  2. Set goals
  3. Push yourself beyond what you think you can do and you will
After the talk, Lochte signed about 350 autographs and spoke to the kids.
“It was exciting to bring an Olympic Gold Medal swimmer of Ryan Lochte’s caliber to Cary and watch him interact with the children,” said TAC President Mike Curran.  “A visit like this touches the imagination of children and brings the opportunity of success into their reality.”