Eight Olympic Athletes Meet With City Teens During Visit to Intrepid Museum

Eight Olympic athletes participated in the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum’s Power of One Program, a mentoring and guidance organization for adolescents on Friday March 27. Athletes for Hope invited AFH member Kate MacKenzie to attend, and coordinated with World Boxing Cares for Mark Breland to participate. AFH member, Heather O’Reilly attended as well.

The Olympic athletes who participated in the panels were:

• Keeth Smart, 2004 Olympian and 2008 Olympic fencing silver medalist in Team Sabre.
• Heather O’Reilly, member of the 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist women’s soccer team.
• Cameron Myler, four-time Olympian and winner of seven U.S. national luge titles and U.S. Luge Association's Female Athlete of the Year nine times.
• Kate Mackenzie, U.S. Rowing's 2002 Female Athlete of the Year and 2004 Olympian.
• Rusty Kanokogi, Olympic Judo pioneer and highest-ranking American woman in the sport.
• Wendy Hilliard, first African-American rhythmic gymnast to represent the sport on a U.S. national team, and winner of several gold medals in international competition.
• Mark Breland, Welterweight Boxing Gold Medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games.
• Aimee Mullins, 1996 and 2000 track and field Paralympic athlete.

Students participating were from Frederick Douglas Academy, Harlem Success Academy, University Neighborhood MS, MS 390, MS322, Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, and Mott Hall High School. Power of One helps children realize they have the ability to change their lives and shape their futures. By connecting students with eminent speakers that have overcome challenges and adversity, adolescents are encouraged to make solid choices on their own, and never give up despite life’s hardships.