Olympic
Champion Deon Hemmings to run IAAF Kids Clinic
20 June 2002 - Deon Hemmings, the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic gold medal, will
run an IAAF Kids Clinic in Kingston, Jamaica, on the eve of the IAAF/Coca Cola World
Junior Championships.
The clinic, which will be part of the Jubilee celebrations to mark the 90th anniversary of the International Association of Athletics Federations, will take place on Monday 15 July.
A group of 30 selected youngsters will attend the clinic to be staged on the new Mondo track in Kingston’s national stadium and benefit from Deon’s great experience.
Hemmings, who has represented Jamaica for more than a decade, immediately praised the renovated facility: "The track looks great! I'm expecting some great performances at these World Juniors but it's also good that the track will remain as a legacy for Jamaican athletics in the future."
This will be the first IAAF World Athletic Series competition to be held in Jamaica, a country that has provided the sport with many great talents over the years.
"I am so excited that the IAAF chose Jamaica as the venue for the World Junior Championships and that I have the opportunity to be part of it,” said Hemmings. “I am hoping that my contribution to the clinic can help inspire the youth of Jamaica to become better and better in athletics."
Jamaica’s youngsters are likely to keep the tradition going too. At the last edition of the World Junior Championships, in Santiago 2000, 15 Jamaican athletes reached finals with Veronica Campbell (JAM) becoming the event’s most memorable performer with a sprint double at 100/200m. Jamaica was also a finalist at all four relays in Santiago, winning gold in the men’s 4x400m and silver in both women’s relays.
Hemmings, who will be a hot favourite at this summer’s Commonwealth Games, will also commentate and analyse races at the World Junior Championships for the IAAF website.
33 year-old Hemmings won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and silver in Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.