Olympic Athletes Share Golden Moments With Children

Children from a youth club were treated to a golden opportunity Thursday at a new Beverly Hills store.

Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson and other star athletes joined about 40 sports fans from the Long Beach and West Valley Boys & Girls Clubs for a sneak peek of a new athletic products store, “Niketown Los Angeles.”

The youngsters also were dazzled by pro beach volleyball athlete Gabrielle Reece, former UCLA basketball standout turned New Jersey Nets player Ed O’Bannon; Olympic gold medalist Alvin Harrison, a member of the men’s relay team, and L.A. Clippers player Charles Outlaw.

The hourlong event featured a question-and-answer session with the athletes and a sports quiz in which the players tossed autographed basketballs and volleyballs to children who answered the sports questions correctly. The sports products store, at 9560 Wilshire Blvd., will open Saturday. The stadium-style store also operates as the local headquarters for PLAY (Participate in the Lives of America’s Youth), a Nike-sponsored program whose mission is to “increase access to safe recreational activities for kids.”

James Owens, a 16-year-old who called himself the “fastest” runner at Jordan High School in Los Angeles High, said that of the athletes in attendance, he was most inspired by Johnson.

“I hope I can be as fast as him, and even faster,” said Owens, a member of the Long Beach club. “Everything was great.”

At the request of a young girl, Johnson held up a pair of his golden track shoes to show off to the circle of admirers. It was one of several pairs he wore during the Olympics while winning gold medals in the 200- and 400-meter races.

“It’s great that they’re enthusiastic about sports,” Johnson said. “They should have fun with it. The most important thing right now for them though is school.”

After the quiz the children took pictures with the athletes, toured the store and chatted with athletes.

Thirteen-year-old Sparkale Ross, a volleyball player at St. Albert the Great School in Compton, said she admires Reece.

“She inspires me,” Sparkale said. “She came out here to talk to us and encourage us.”