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Olympians Encouraging Middle Schoolers To Get Fit

Olympian Tyson Gay walked with students outside Beaumont Middle School to kick off the 2010 World Fit program.
Olympian Tyson Gay walked with students outside Beaumont Middle School to kick off the 2010 World Fit program.

By Brenna Angel

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-894480.mp3

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- – Two Lexington middle schools are part of a nationwide pilot project to increase childhood fitness. Gold medal diver Micki King and sprinter Tyson Gay are supporting the World Fit: Olympians for Worldwide Fitness program.

"The beauty of it is its simplicity and its sustainability," King said. "We're not trying to make Olympians here. We have one goal: get gets outside and moving."

Lexington-native and Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay told students at Beaumont and Winburn middle schools Monday that they don't have to train for hours on end to become physically fit.

"I think it starts with walking. A lot of people want to get personal trainers, go to the weight room, and start running, but I think it all begins with walking. You know if you walk a mile a day, I believe that can help stop a lot of the obesity."

Beaumont and Winburn Students are challenged to walk 45 minutes a day and will keep a log of their miles. They have a goal of walking the distance from Lexington, to London, England, the site of the 2012 summer Olympics.