Other Stories
Yelena site reaches new heights
New site launch is springboard to success
Revamped Training Room offers lots more
News
Inspiring young talent
13strides director Anthony Borsumato – an international athlete until injury forced him to swap his spikes for designing websites and other digital applications – joined five athletics legends to help inspire the next generation of athletes at an IAAF masterclass event, staged to coincide with the start of the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy.
Athletics legends have banded together to help inspire the next generation of young talent.
IAAF Ambassadors Kelly Holmes, Kajsa Bergqvist, Mike Powell, Wilson Kipketer and Stephane Diagana teamed up at an IAAF masterclass event on the eve of the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy.
The legends joined IAAF Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka, the world record holder for the men’s pole vault, in the special event that was attended by 400 teenagers from all over the world, including Australia, Mexico, USA, Cuba, Peru, Germany, Slovakia and many more.
The event began with a fun athletics competition – staged in the very centre of Bressanone – that saw 48 local eight and nine-year-olds compete in the IAAF development programme for this age group.
The youngsters were divided into teams of eight with 13strides director Anthony Borsumato, a world-class 400m hurdler before injury forced early retirement in 2003, joining the five legends as a team captain.
Double Olympic champion Holmes, world long jump record holder Powell, former world indoor and outdoor high jump champion Bergqvist, ex-world 400m hurdles champion Diagana, world indoor and outdoor 800m record holder Kipketer and British international Borsumato passed on coaching advice as the kids worked through numerous stations designed by IAAF experts to help young athletes get their first taste of athletics in a fun and educational way.
Bergqvist’s team won the competition – but the event was about more than winning; it was about passion for athletics.
Each of the legends went on to address the large audience of athletics hopefuls with Bergqvist getting things underway.
Kipketer then stressed the importance of dedication and hard training in order to make a successful transition from Youth to Junior and senior level while Holmes’ motivational speech reflected her own international career which was struck by injury and illnesses.
Diagana highlighted the importance of competing for what one believes in and Powell, a world champion in 1991 and 1993, was the last key-note speaker and drove the attention on concentration and focus.
Bubka said the masterclass had proved a hugely enjoyable and valuable event.
He added: “We had the opportunity to discuss with the younger talent and give them the value of our experience of what they will have to go through when they start competing at a higher level. It was a wonderful thing to be able to meet and talk to these youngsters.”
Of the world youth championships, he said: “I didn’t have such a high level of competition in my youth; this competition is one of the most important for the IAAF as it gives the chance to our youngest athletes to make their first step at the international level.”
Borsumato said: “It was brilliant to be part of an event that really put the emphasis on encouraging young athletes. The kids were great to work with and they got a lot from the experience. Our mission statement at 13strides is all about inspiring participation in sport and that’s exactly what this masterclass achieved.”
"Greatrun embark on many complex and time critical campaigns to deliver world class events and 13 Strides has been instrumental in helping us achieve our targets, offering expertise in a friendly and constructive manner against demanding schedules and always delivering high quality products and services."