Track and Field Athletes Get Some Love from First Lady Michelle Obama
by: LetsRun.com
May 15, 2012
Day 2 of the Team USA Olympic Media Summit in Dallas featured the headliner of the entire summit. First Lady Michelle Obama, who announced an expansion of her "Let's Move" campaign to get 1.7 million youth active through Olympic sports programs. As a result many Olympic committees will be expanding their youth initiatives including USA Track and Field which the AP says will increase its program by 35%. USATF has a press release out on this and if you're looking for a program for your kid to sign up for go here: http://ahealthieramerica.org/#!/olympics
Olympic writer Alan Abrahamson has an excellent recap of Michelle Obama's visit here. Natalie Coughlin, Olympic star and Dancing with the Stars star, who introduced Mrs. Obama, admittedly was "nervous". Mrs. Obama spoke for 5-7 minutes, and then met all the athletes on the stage behind her. Once again, we recommend Alan Abrahamson's piece on the visit.
Two track and field athletes, LaShawn Merritt and Wallace Spearmon, were front and center during Michelle Obama's speech. Spearmon stood directly behind her and Merritt was perhaps better situated for TV, one spot to Spearmon's right. As we said after the speech Mrs. Obama met all the athletes on stage. She shook the hands of the athletes including Bernard Lagat. However, Olympic 400m hurdler Lashinda Demus got a hug.
So if you're keeping score at home- 2 track athletes front and center, and a third one with a hug from the first lady.
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Only two track and field athletes addressed the media on Monday, Bernard Lagat and LaShawn Merritt. More on them here.
More Day 2: Bernard Lagat Talks Olympic Trials and Olympics: "I'm More Hungry Now", Plus LaShawn Merritt
*Day 2 Photos with Michelle Obama
More Day 1: Team USA Sprint and Field Love: Allyson Felix, Wallace Spearmon, Sanya Richards-Ross, Lashinda Demus, Trey Hardee, Jillian Camarena-Williams, Brittney Reese, Hyleas Fountain Talk Olympics
*Allyson Felix Interview
*Wallace Spearmon Video
*Sanya Richards Ross Video
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