Fifteen years ago, Maddette Smith recognized a void in Southwest Florida’s sports scene and founded the Olympia Track and Field Club to fill that void.
“I’m a lover of track,” said Smith. “I went on a track scholarship myself. I traveled all over the world with track and field. When I first moved back to Southwest Florida, I felt like track had pretty much died out here.”
Smith’s vision has grown into a club with nearly 70 athletes training year-round, producing more than 50 college athletes with the help of dedicated coaches and parents.
“She’s a very great coach and she’s taught me a lot since I’ve been here,” said Mikayla Burton, a club member.
“She means a lot to me,” said Ava Fredrickson, a club member. “She’s a really fun coach and I just love her.”
Practices are held at Dunbar High School, where athletes have become a force to be reckoned with at the Junior Olympics.
“It just makes me feel really happy that I get to run and jump,” said Fredrickson.
Several athletes have run their races this year and more are preparing for the Junior Olympics at the end of this month.
“I’m training every day, almost every day, and practice has been hard, but I’m getting through it,” said Burton.
For many young athletes, the goals extend beyond this summer.
“I want to go to the Olympics, be a gold medalist and make my dad proud,” said Kyana Cranston, another club member.
“My goals are to run in middle school and high school and maybe one day become an elite runner,” said Fredrickson.
Thanks to Smith’s vision, these athletes are getting a jump start on winning medals.
“I’m so proud. Words can’t even express how I feel about how great they have done. I have a very good coaching staff. I have a very good parent support team. All the kids that are here right now, it’s always fruits of their labor because they come out here every day it’s hot and raining, it doesn’t matter,” said Smith.
The Olympia Track and Field Club continues to change lives and set the stage for young athletes to achieve their dreams.