Chris Nilsen leads a training session in Xiamen (© Jiang Han/Xinhua/Media Development Programme)
On an ordinary Thursday afternoon, the Shangwen school in Xiamen, which has been operating for less than two years, experienced a scene more bustling than its opening day.
When four Diamond League athletes – Sam Kendricks, Chris Nilsen, Devynne Charlton and Fred Kerley – walked out of the hall during a visit ahead of Saturday's Wanda Diamond League Xiamen, the thunderous cheers sounded like they could belong at an Olympic award ceremony. Students thronged the corridors, aisles and windows, just to catch a glimpse of the sports stars, or search for a chance to get an autograph.
During the opening remarks echoing through the hall, an unexpected act occurred. The two pole vaulters, Kendricks and Nilsen, subtly exchanged notes beneath the desk just like two naughty boys. The instigator of this secret communication? A young student sat in the back row. On the note was an English question: "How do you control your attitude when you lose the games?"
Kendricks, the first to receive the note, wrote down words in a beautiful cursive flow. "A long journey is a good one if you have something to treasure every day. If winning is the only goal, it will be a short journey."
Sam Kendricks writes a note during a school visit in Xiamen (© Hu Xingyu/Xinhua/Media Development Programme)
Nilsen then added: "The best way to control your emotions is to know about it! Make everything you do, good or bad, a step towards implement."
The pair’s presence during the outdoor interactive session also quickly drew the most significant crowd. Initially, they each put their skills on display. But for Kendricks and Nilsen, this wasn't enough.
"More students, more!" they called out. Like a wave, they engaged several rows of students in their warm-ups, quickly filling half the playground. With an unspoken agreement, they led everyone in a series of jumping exercises and stretches. They even showcased their prowess in handstand walking, eliciting cheers from the audience.
When a girl from the club learned that Kendricks and Nilsen were pole vaulters, her first thought was fear of height and injury.
In response to this, Nilsen showed great encouragement. He didn't start learning pole vault in the beginning. From football to pole vault, athletics has launched him to new heights.
Fred Kerley, Sam Kendricks, Chris Nilsen and Devynne Charlton during a school visit in Xiamen (© Hu Xingyu/Xinhua/Media Development Programme)
Nilsen compared pole vaulting to driving a car, noting that both progressively increase in speed. In a car, we accelerate from 0 to 10 to 20 to 30km per hour. Similarly, in pole vaulting, we progress from one metre, to two metres, to three metres, and so on. "It's a marathon, not a sprint," he said.
After a brief interaction, the athletes were urged to end their schedule. Kendricks and Nilsen also left the campus amid the crowd. Meanwhile, a group of girls from the high jump team lingered, discussing at the edge of the field.
"I will definitely try pole vaulting in the future, and jump as high as they do," said one with excitement.
Tian Xinlu of the Media Development Programme for World Athletics
