Olympian urges Richmond students to go for the gold academically

Nine-year-old Marcus Fuller wanted to know just how fast Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt could run.

So the third-grader asked Merritt, who was making a return visit to Richmond's Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary School yesterday, the obvious question:

"Are you faster than a cheetah?"

If cheetahs run faster than 30-some mph, then no. Otherwise, he's got them beat.

Merritt, keeping his word to return to Redd after visiting last year for a Standards of Learning pep rally, spoke to the whole school yesterday during an assembly about working hard, respecting others and doing well in school.

A Portsmouth native, Merritt earned two gold medals last year in the Beijing Summer Games, one for the 400 meters and another for the 4-x-400-meter relay.

His time of 43.75 seconds for the 400 meters is among the fastest in history. Merritt, 23, also won this year in the U.S. and World Championships.

After the assembly, the tall, lanky runner strolled around the school, visiting classrooms to answer questions.

He got the usual ones, such as 'How tall are you?' He is 6 feet, 3 inches.

'When did you start running?' In 11th grade.

'Did you go to college?' He started at East Carolina University but stopped after a semester to compete professionally in track and field. He's currently studying sports management at Old Dominion University.

As he answered questions, his gold medals were passed around the classroom for students to see and touch.

Several students asked if he'd ever lost a race.

"Yes, many," he said. "But losing just made me stronger."

To that, Merritt said that just because he has won a race doesn't mean he has to stop working hard.

He related the message to the students' SOL tests.

"Don't lose focus," he told them. "Just because you did something good or great one time, you have to still continue to work hard."

Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or .