It’s time to run, jump and throw

The Power Of Sport Tour arrived in Terrace a week ago bringing a variety of sport activities to the community.

Last Tuesday, Oct. 20, students at Cassie Hall Elementary were treated to a run, jump, throw program with a special appearance by Canadian Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 metre relay, Robert Esmie.

The program had the students working through a series of track events and simulated equipment that had them running, jumping and throwing.

Some of the activities had the students grouped in four teams for a relay which had them jumping a number of small hurdles across the gymnasium.

They finished off the afternoon of activity with two relays with the goal of building a team castle.

Each runner would bring a critical building piece of their castle and stack it at the other end of the gym before running back and sending off the next teammate.

Students were asked not only to run but also to try and build the tallest castle possible.

To cool down, they circled the gym taking on the form of different animals like giraffes, eagles, turtles and kangaroos.

After the exercise session, Esmie gave a special presentation highlighting his journey to becoming an Olympian.

Esmie grew up in Jamaica and had aspirations at a young age to be an Olympic runner. He wasn’t afraid to set his goal high and while in high school he set out door-to-door to raise money to support his endeavour.

Come 1996, he was standing proud on the podium with an Olympic gold medal for the 100 metre relay with his Canadian teammates Glenroy Gilbert, Bruny Surin and Donovan Bailey.

Esmie, with his leading 100 metres in their gold medal race, was the fastest of the eight teams in the Olympic final, as a member of the world’s best 4x100 metre relay team in the mid-1990s.

Today, he acts as an ActNow BC Athlete Ambassador and the founder of “Air Blastoff” which helps athletes of all levels improve their training and performance.  

During his presentation at Cassie Hall, he encouraged students to focus on their desire and vision of what they dream to be.

Holding up a small plant to the crowd of young faces, Esmie asked them to list the items it needed in order to grow. The youth listed items such as nutrients, water, sunlight and love.

Esmie then explained that each of them needed those same things in order to grow and highlighted the importance of eating food that is good for the body and provides fuel as well as getting out and being active.

Esmie wanted the youth to realize that everyone has their own dreams and aspirations, and that they shouldn’t be afraid of expressing them.

One young student was brave enough to stand up in front of his fellow students and say that his dream was to one day win the Stanley Cup.

Esmie then asked the crowd of students to raise their hand if they thought he couldn’t do it. A number of students put their arms up in the air.

But when Esmie asked his classmates if they believed in him, a sea of hands reached towards the ceiling.

Esmie’s message was simply that there will be people who don’t believe in you, but that you can’t let that affect your ambitions.

“Don’t be scared to tell people your dreams,” said Esmie. “Follow yours and don’t let anyone break your dream...it’s your dream, your desire.”

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