Olympic gold medallists Nova Peris and Nikki Hudson are touring the Territory to chat with secondary school students about sport and life as part of the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) Talk to a Champ program.
Olympic gold medallists Nova Peris and Nikki Hudson are touring the Territory to chat with secondary school students about sport and life as part of the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) Talk to a Champ program.
Peris and Hudson visit Centralian Senior College in Alice Springs on Tuesday 21 June followed by Dripstone Middle School on Wednesday 22 June in Darwin. In a one hour discussion, the Olympians will share with students how they became involved in sport, the positive impact it has had on their lives as well as their experience at the Olympic Games.
Peris, who became the first indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal as a member of the victorious Hockeyroos at the 1996 Atlanta Games, returns to her old high school in Darwin where she was a gifted athlete as a teenager and represented her school in a variety of sports.
The Territorian still holds a school Track and Field record in the Year 9 Girls Long Jump, set back in 1984, a record that has stood for some 27 years.
“I am really excited to return to my old high school and talk about my life as an athlete,” Peris said.
“Sport has provided me with so many opportunities and experiences. It is great to be able to share this with the kids and hopefully inspire them to do their best in whatever they choose to do.”
Talk to a Champ tours around the country during the year and at each event feature two outstanding Olympians, who share with aspiring athletes the positive impact sport has had on their lives.
Talk to a Champ is just one part of the a.s.p.i.r.e. school network, the AOC’s education program, which uses the Olympic sport traditions and values to teach life values and life skills.
The program also features the online multimedia events Chat to a Champ and Learn from a Champ as well as Olympic Day. This Thursday globally is Olympic Day and there have been over 50 Olympians making school visits in recent days to celebrate the occassion and inspire the youth.
In Canberra on Thursday another Talk to a Champ session will be held with rowing gold medallists Scott Brennan and David Crawshay starring. Federal Minister for Sport Mark Arbib and AOC President John Coates will also be present. Thursday's Talk to a Champ session will be webcast live at 930am (AEST) on http://corporate.olympics.com.au/education/a-s-p-i-r-e-school-network/talk-to-a-champ
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