Olympic Silver Medalist Manteo Mitchell Visits Crestview Elementary
He’s in training to earn a spot on Team USA for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Students at Crestview Elementary started Monday morning off on the right foot with a visit from Olympic silver medalist runner Manteo Mitchell. Mitchell was in Greer to promote the Subway Fit for Life Challenge as to encourage students to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Mitchell told the crowd of more than 650 students, staff, and parents that he wanted to play high school football, but a broken arm kept him from the team. He took up running, where he set a state record and earned an athletic scholarship to Western Carolina University. He devoted his time at WCU to earning two undergraduate degrees and a master’s degree.
Mitchell used the appearance to encourage young people to get an education and practice healthy eating and daily physical activity.
More than 11,400 students across the Upstate will participate in Subway’s Fit for Life Challenge as they log their healthy eating and physical activity during October. The goal is for students to think about their daily habits and to make better choices.
Mitchell is honored to be selected by Subway to address the issue of childhood obesity and healthy living. He said in an interview, “If you devote your time to others, people appreciate it. What better opportunity than to give it to kids because they are the future. Knowing that I was able to leave a lasting moment on their lives is the most important part.”
At the 2012 United States Olympic Trials, Mitchell qualified for the Olympic team by finishing fifth in the 400 meters, which qualified him to run in the 4x400 meters relay as a member of the U.S. relay team. During the 2012 Olympics, Mitchell ran the first leg of the heat for the 4x400 meters relay and broke his leg halfway through. Despite his injury, Manteo finished his lap and the American team qualified for the final, earning second place and the Silver Medal for Team USA.