Olympian visits east Bradenton elementary during Fun Run

Richard Thompson, a four-time Olympic sprinter, shares a message of encouragement with students before they begin their run.

By Liz Ramos
| 3:30 p.m. January 20, 2023

Freedom Elementary School's Jenessa Bunker, Jakob Flemming, Camila Aviles-Pagan and Mya Barrett lead the Autrey All Stars onto the track.

East County
Schools

Before starting their Fun Run on Jan 20, Freedom Elementary School students listened to a man who knows about the fun, and pressure, of running.

Richard Thompson, a four-time Olympian for Trinidad and Tobago, stood before pre-K, kindergarten and first grade students and told them the importance of hard work, discipline and perseverance.

"As I got older and competed in more races, I started realizing something. The harder I worked, the more I believed in myself, the more disciplined that I became, and the better the results were that happened for me," said Thompson, who won the gold with his teammates in the 4X100 relay in 2008. "It's the same thing that applies to each one of you, regardless of what your goal is."

Students ran, walked, bunny hopped and skipped their way around the school's tracks after listening to their pep talk.

Lenka Cenovova shook her pom pom in the air as she watched her children, first grader Jerry Veverka and kindergartner Lenka Veverka, run.

"It's amazing to be here," Cenovova said. "It's a wonderful feeling supporting them and the school. They're having a lot of fun."

Freedom Elementary School families raised more than $16,000 through the Fun Run.

Dozens of Freedom Elementary School parents wait to see their students participate in the Fun Run.

Freedom Elementary School students race toward the track.

Nathalie Noa is excited to see her daughter Victoria Noa, who is in pre-K at Freedom Elementary, run around the track. "It's awesome," Nathalie Noa says.

Freedom Elementary School kindergartner Corum Wikstrom shows off his dance moves.

Olympian Richard Thompson, who is a parent at Freedom Elementary School, shares a message on the importance of hard work, discipline and perseverance.

Lenka Cenovova cheers for her Freedom Elementary School first grader Jerry Veverka and her kindergartner Lenka Veverka as they participate in the school's Fun Run. "

Freedom Elementary School first grader Jack Bardin bunny hops his way around the track.

Jeilianys Rodriguez-Cortes, who is in pre-K at Freedom Elementary School, dances to the "YMCA."

Freedom Elementary School kindergartner Ruby Saxey leads her class onto the field. Each class made a flag to represent their class.

Freedom Elementary School first grader Kenia Mata holds the American flag during the national anthem.

Freedom Elementary School first grader Melanie Johnson takes off holding her class' flag.

Freedom Elementary School first grader Sophia Gambrell has fun participating in the Fun Run with her mother, Melanie Stern.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.