KILMORE and District Little Athletics were treated well on the weekend, with a world record holder and multiple Paralympic medallist coming out to meet some of the kids.
Jaryd Clifford is a Paralympic long-distance runner who won two silvers and a bronze at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
In 2018, at the Sydney Grand Prix, he broke the men’s 1500m T12 world record and also became the first Paralympian to compete at the able-bodied U20 World Championships.
On Saturday, he and the kids were forced to battle the wet and windy conditions, but it still made for a great opportunity to learn some tips and tricks from one of the world’s best.
Speaking with the Review, Jaryd said he once participated in Little Athletics, highlighting why it’s so important for kids to be a part of it.
“I think it’s super important. I think Little Athletics gives so much more than just developing elite athletes. I think the skills that you can learn for life through Little Athletics is huge,” he said.
“There’s a lot of social aspects, being persistent, having goals. Little Athletics is about trying to beat your personal best and I think that can be important for the rest of your life.”
He also reflected on how it builds the next generation of athletes by developing different strategies throughout races, forcing kids to implement different skills throughout the day.
Jaryd is gearing up for a huge Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028, where he seeks redemption following his disqualification at the Paris Games.
He also shared his excitement for Brisbane, saying it would be a dream come true to win a medal in front of a home crowd.
“That would be the absolute dream, to be able to run in front of a home crowd in the green and gold. I think that’s just the absolute peak sporting dream,” he said.
The day was made possible through Coles, which gave Kilmore a grant of $4044 through its national grants program.
Brendan, Secretary at Little Athletics in Kilmore, said the grant has done wonders for them.
“We are a growing club which has doubled over the last seven years.” he said.
“The grant has allowed us to be more flexible with our events and equipment, being able to hold two running events at the same time, which keeps the day flowing and the kids moving.”
“It was huge for the kids to meet someone at the top of the world stage. Afterwards, most of them were raving about him.”