2008 Woodie Awards
Olympian to speak about importance of sports
By: Michelle Bosserman
Issue date: 10/15/08 Section: Campus
She's heard the U.S. National Anthem while she stood on the gold-medal podium in Rome, and tonight she will be on campus.
Lucinda Williams Adams, 1960 Olympic gold medal winner, will speak at 8 p.m. in room 1007 of the Business Administration building.
During her speech, Adams will discuss the importance of sporting events as well as her athletic achievements, including her capture of three gold medals and her record for the woman's 220-yard dash.
Besides her Olympic achievements, Adams was also elected president of the National Association for Sports and Physical Education in 1994 and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Professional and Amateur Athletics Committee.
Nancy Spencer, associate professor of human movement, sport and leisure studies, emphasized the significance of Adams' achievements on and off the sports field.
"[The Olympics] were really important in the history of our country," Spencer said. "In the times of the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia were the two superpowers, and our success on the field was seen in part as success off the field."
Adams is an important figure in sports and competed at high-intensity levels during a time when females were not known to show athleticism.
Freshman Katie Murtha heard about the event and is interested in what Adams has to say. Murtha thinks the event will be interesting because participating in the Olympics is "not something everybody does."
Distinguished teacher and professor emeritus of human movement, sport and leisure studies Janet Parks is in part responsible for bringing the established athlete to speak at the University.
Parks feels students should attend the event for two reasons.
"[Adams] was a female athlete long before people realized females could be so accomplished," Parks said. "Also, the social climate at the time heightens the achievements of the athletes who participated in the 1960 Olympics."
The event is free and open to all students and community members.
Lucinda Williams Adams, 1960 Olympic gold medal winner, will speak at 8 p.m. in room 1007 of the Business Administration building.
During her speech, Adams will discuss the importance of sporting events as well as her athletic achievements, including her capture of three gold medals and her record for the woman's 220-yard dash.
Besides her Olympic achievements, Adams was also elected president of the National Association for Sports and Physical Education in 1994 and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Professional and Amateur Athletics Committee.
Nancy Spencer, associate professor of human movement, sport and leisure studies, emphasized the significance of Adams' achievements on and off the sports field.
"[The Olympics] were really important in the history of our country," Spencer said. "In the times of the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia were the two superpowers, and our success on the field was seen in part as success off the field."
Adams is an important figure in sports and competed at high-intensity levels during a time when females were not known to show athleticism.
Freshman Katie Murtha heard about the event and is interested in what Adams has to say. Murtha thinks the event will be interesting because participating in the Olympics is "not something everybody does."
Distinguished teacher and professor emeritus of human movement, sport and leisure studies Janet Parks is in part responsible for bringing the established athlete to speak at the University.
Parks feels students should attend the event for two reasons.
"[Adams] was a female athlete long before people realized females could be so accomplished," Parks said. "Also, the social climate at the time heightens the achievements of the athletes who participated in the 1960 Olympics."
The event is free and open to all students and community members.
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