COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A panel of two and three-time Olympians spoke to students at Benedict College Tuesday morning.
The star athletes shared their career highlights and life experiences with students — offering them tips on how to follow their dreams.
“Being able to hear the stories of these particular athletes, their journey, their challenges, but also knowing that they are their own brand ambassador, is very key and important to their own education and athletic journey,” says Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique, the Dean of Education, Health, and Human Services at Benedict College.
Among the speakers was Quanera Hayes — who just won a gold medal in Paris for the Women’s 400 Meter Relay.
“It’s been a tough road. I am a mother of two. I have a five-year-old son and a daughter who is in heaven. I had her in 2022. This is my second Olympics, my first Olympics I walked away with nothing, so it was just really keeping my mind focused on what the endgame was, and that was becoming an Olympic Gold Medalist one day,” she says.
Also on the panel was Wadeline Jonathas — who won gold for the 400 Meter Relay during the Tokyo games — and Natasha Hastings — who took home gold medals for the 400 Meter Relay in the Beijing and Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Hastings says oftentimes Olympians get compared to superheroes, but they’re just human like everyone else.
“And I like to share that I’ve been through some of the same things, and I’ve had to overcome those things, by asking for help and putting in the work, so hopefully being an example of someone who’s been through some things but then also still working through things and doing things on the other side of it,” she says.
Alleyne Francique was also a panelist. He’s a two-time World Indoor Champion and Olympic coach.
His advice to students? Always try to do something even if you fail — rather than fail to ever try.
“Have a positive mindset. Always be positive. Never be negative. Negative energy kills, so just always be positive, and listen to your professors,” he says.
And while Hayes is undecided on whether or not she’ll compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, she hopes her win encourages other young athletes to follow their dreams.
“That’s my biggest thing, because people will put you in a box. People will always put you in a box, but don’t let people put you in a box. Go after your dreams and work hard at it and you can do whatever it is that you want to do,” she says.
abccolumbia.com
