Olympian Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota, speaks to several thousand Rapid City area school kids at the Youth Symposium at the Civic Center. The symposium is the kickoff event for the Black Hills Pow wow.
Billy Mills wows Rapid City school kids
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY–– Olympic legend Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota, stole the attention and hearts of over five thousand Rapid City school kids. The He Sapa Wacipi Youth Symposium was the introduction for most of the children into this piece of world and American history. It was also the place where many of the Lakota children who were in attendance were able to recognize one of their own. Mills, from Pine Ridge, relived his Olympic triumph in 1964 through a video and his own words with the school kids and their chaperones. The video presentation showed his last lap of the 10,000 meter race, the event that he won at the Tokyo games. The excitement built up in the arena of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center as the race was watched on the large screens. When Mills sprinted past the last two runners to win his gold medal, applause and cheers were just as excited as they were 50 years ago. Mills is wrapping up a nationwide tour around Indian Country to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his Olympic win. Using his platform as an Olympian and as the first and only American athlete to ever win that particular event, Mills promotes his Running Strong for American Indian Youth program on his tour. Running Strong helps to raise awareness and support for the youngest members of the tribes in America. During his presentation, Mills gave a moment by moment recounting of his last lap; from the stumble that almost took him out of the race to the moment he kicked in his last bit of energy to sprint ahead and take the win. He talked about feeling his blood sugar level drop nearly halfway into the race and how he settled in his mind that his goal wasn’t to win but to merely complete the race. In that entire crowd of thousands watching that day in Japan, Mills had his mind on his wife, Patricia. He knew where she was sitting in the stadium and kept his focus on her. He told the crowd that Patricia and he both focused on their individual goals but supported each other unconditionally. The Youth Symposium, hosted by Rural America Initiatives, also included a spotlight dance of each of the different dance categories. As much as possible, the dancers invited to show case their talents are from right within the Rapid City community and part of the school district in some way. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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