Sheila Taromina – the model of perseverance
An American Olympic Gold
Medalist in the 4x200 meters freestyle division and
an ITU Triathlon World Champion Sheila Taormina
visited the New International School of Thailand
(NIST) and spoke to over one hundred NIST athletic
students and staff on Friday 7 October. The School
also supported her in hosting two one-day swim
clinics for Bangkok triathletes, on 8 and 9 October
2011, at its 25-metre swimming pool.
Sheila, the smallest swimmer (158 cm) to win an
Olympic gold since 1920, and the only woman in the
world to have competed in three different sports
(swimming, triathlon and modern pentathlon) in four
consecutive Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008),
shared with NIST’s young and enthusiastic athletes
and staff her inspirational stories of how she
overcame several challenges in her quest to qualify
for the Olympics. To her, success came from
perseverance, commitment, hard work, the desire to
succeed and sometimes, breaking the paradigm.
“There is the occasional city where I feel a
connection from the first moment I land, and Bangkok
is one of the places. I am in love with the people,
the culture, the food, and the energy. During the
first 24 hours of my visit I had the pleasure to
come to NIST. The students questions were
insightful, which is a sign of champions.”, Sheila
said after the assembly.
“Such an inspiring figure, with a very good humour
and lots of energy, Sheila has encouraged us all to
fight for our dreams. Her story is clearly not the
‘rise to the top quickly and make millions’ story
but ‘get an education, work the best you can with
what you have and never give up’ story", said Paul
Hodgkinson, NIST’s Athletic Director.
The swim clinics for triathletes held at NIST
received rave reviews from the participants “When I
first asked around whether there would be an
interest in a clinic with Sheila, many thought the
triathlon community in Thailand were not ready for
training at this level, but the response has been
enormous. In less than a week, the 24 slots were
taken and there was a waiting list!” says Edle
Tenden who initiated the clinic.
“It was a great day - a real change in mindset for
my swimming. I now feel far more motivated to get
into improving my technique and therefore my times.
Sheila was great!” said Jason Williams, one of the
participants.
“I have coached swim clinics for 15 years, and this
one in Bangkok was most unique because of the
international diversity, with attendees from South
Africa, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Mexico,
Japan, Poland, Germany, Norway, Switzerland,
Holland.....and of course Thailand...this could only
happen in a city as hip as Bangkok! It was great
fun. I feel that I have made friends from around the
world”, Sheila said after the swim clinics.
“As a sponsor, we were proud to support Sheila
Taormina’s clinics. The practical content enriches
the knowledge and passion of Thailand’s sport
community”, said Fausto Izquiel of Bike Zone.
Bangkok marks the start of Sheila’s world clinic
tour. After Bangkok she will go to Hong Kong,
Singapore, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai.
For Sheila’s biography, please visit:
http://www.sheilat.com/bio.php
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