Suguru Osako, a marathon who retired from active duty at the end of the Tokyo Olympics, visited Kochi Prefecture as part of activities to nurture the next generation and opened an athletics class for elementary school students.
Mr. Osako, who retired from active duty at the end of the race that won the 6th place at the Tokyo Olympics, has set the next goal of nurturing the next generation and has been holding athletics classes for elementary school students all over the country since last month.
Today, I visited Kuroshio Town in the western part of Kochi Prefecture, and in the morning I taught 30 people from 4th grade to 6th grade how to run.
First, he explained the importance of stretching, which is indispensable for running, and taught Mr. Osako himself the menu he had done before the tournament, including his gestures.
After that, when Mr. Osako runs 1500 meters in the same form as when he was active, the children will run 1500 meters for the first time against the children who will face off with the children in the 1500 meters and relay 100 meters each with 15 people. I was surprised at the world-class speed that I experienced.
After this, Mr. Osako asks the children about their dreams for the future, thinks together about how to achieve them, and says, "It is as important to take on challenges and act as much as to achieve the goals. I was sending an ale.
A 6th grade girl from Kami City, Kochi Prefecture, said, "I learned the importance of taking on challenges, so I want to do my best at the athletics competition first."
Mr. Osako said, "I hope that the athletes will be able to convey what they have learned and enrich their children's lives," and will continue these activities in the future.