Posted on 05/10/2017 3:47:21 PM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — Two Sierra Vista Unified School District campuses were graced with a visit from an Olympic bronze medalist on Tuesday.
Before the first school bell rang at Huachuca Mountain Elementary School, students rode side by side with Olympian Donny Robinson to the campus. His competitive sport is Bicycle Motocross, also known as BMX.
At the Carmichael Elementary School campus, the cafeteria was at capacity with students, parents and teachers anxiously awaiting the Olympian’s arrival.
“This week is about having an option to walk or bike to school safely,” preschool teacher Rachael Franks said. Franks is also the campus’ health and wellness coordinator.
Carmichael Principal Rod Egan, noted that it is the school’s goal “is to instill health and staying active with our students.”
“We currently have a walking club where our students walk or run a lap three days a week in the mornings,” he said.
Robinson, on his very own BMX bike, rode into Carmichael’s cafeteria greeting students with high-fives and cheers.
He then gave an account on how he became one of the first Olympic competitors in the BMX event.
Carmichael Principal Rod Egan, noted that it is the school’s goal “is to instill health and staying active with our students.”
“We currently have a walking club where our students walk or run a lap three days a week in the mornings,” he said.
Robinson, on his very own BMX bike, rode into Carmichael’s cafeteria greeting students with high-fives and cheers.
He then gave an account on how he became one of the first Olympic competitors in the BMX event.
In 2008, Robinson was chosen by Mike King, team coach of the 2008 USA BMX Olympic Team, to represent the USA along with teammates Jill Kintner, Mike Day, and Kyle Bennett, in BMX racing competition at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. It was the first time in Olympic history where BMX was entered as a sport.
“I have been riding bikes since I was six years old,” Robinson told the audience. “I didn’t realize what these two wheels could do to my life, until that moment at 25 years old.”
Robinson, now 33, encouraged the students to never give up on their dreams and if they don’t know what those dreams are; to never stop discovering.
“I’ve been there. Bullied. Told that I couldn’t make it,” he said. “I didn’t let that stop me, and neither should it with you.”
Several students were gifted bikes, presented by Robinson himself. The pupils were chosen at random through a drawing.
Kindergardner Jesse Gutierrez was the first to receive his bike.
When fourth-grader Lenard Valdez’s name was called, the pre-teen high-fived the crowd and pumped his fist in the air while he walked down the aisle.
“It’s feels like I just got a puppy, but I can ride it,” Valdez said.
By 10:30 a.m., Robinson left the campus, but the moment seems to be one the children will never forget.
“They were ecstatic,” Franks said. “They’re not going to forget this.”
On May 15, two more Carmichael Elementary students will be selected to receive a bike and helmet of their own.
May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in in communities from coast to coast.
Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.
Wednesday marks National Bike/Walk to School Day nationwide, including Sierra Vista.
"...got a visit..."?
"...were graced with a visit..."?
That is a great line.
As an aside, I posit that any activity that a person can do well while high on pot should not be an Olympic event.
So, you know: snowboarding, BMX, et al.
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