Stretching before the start of Sports Extravaganza events. Photo courtesy Sports Extravaganza/LaTanya Sheffield
Local Olympian LaTanya Sheffield has spent most of her career overcoming 400-meter hurdles. Now, she’s putting her expertise to good use by introducing sports to children in an annual Olympian-run sports clinic called Sports Extravaganza, taking place on March 3 at Flowing Wells High School, 3725 N. Flowing Wells Rd.
“We’re offering our youth community the opportunity to experience play - to the tenth power,” said Sheffield, who competed in the ’88 Olympic games in the 400-meter hurdl98e.
Enlisting the help of fellow Olympians and professional athletes like Long Jump World Record Holder Mike Powell, 1500m outdoors record-holder runner Bernard Lagat and Olympic medalist and Tucsonan, swimmer Lacey Nymeyer, Sports Extravaganza offers 45-minute sessions in a variety of sports from swimming to discus, with Olympians serving as coaches.
“The Olympians are all coming together to fight child obesity, and at the same time, we’re giving the children lessons for life,” said Sheffield. “The long-jumper may say, ‘you know how you have to reach when you’re in the air? It’s just like how you have to pursue your goals in life, you’ve just got to go for it.’”
Last year’s Sports Extravaganza catered to over 900 children. The full day event is free for kids to attend with registration, (available on the website through Feb. 18), and includes lunch and a giveaway bag sponsored by Nike.
“We’re able to address different interests for kids,” said Sheffield. “I had no idea that the popularity of this program would take on such a fire.”
But that’s not all. In addition to the clinics, now in their 14th year, Sheffield also hosts POP track club, a program with track and field youth events, and an afterschool program called N’ Shape to Play through Tohono O’odham Parks and Recreation that inspires movement on a daily basis.
“This is my way of giving back, using the experiences and expertise that I had from my peers and from other Olympians to offer something that’s very unique to Tucson, and that’s Olympians instructing kids to fight child obesity,” said Sheffield. “As a coach, I use jumping rope as a fitness tool, and these kids hold the rope and don’t even know how to jump rope because they’re not outside playing. We’re trying to change that.”
For more information or to register for Sports Extravaganza, visit SportsX.org. Sheffield and SportsX will also host the SportsX/Nike Activity Explosion at the Foothills Mall, Feb. 18 from 2-4 p.m.
