In celebration of the recent Olympics in London, Manhattan College will host a weeklong Olympic lecture series, Sept. 17-21. The series will feature appearances and conversations with Olympic medalists Amanda Beard, Cullen Jones and Nastia Liukin, and alumni and members of the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame Aliann Pompey '99 and Lindy Remigino '53, as well as with Manhattan track coach Joe Ryan '81.
"This lecture series is not only educational but also inspirational and a source of nationalism and pride," said John Bennett, director of Student Activities at Manhattan College. "These athletes represent diversity in every sense of the term, especially once you get to know each athlete's personal story."
The schedule of events for the week includes:
- Monday, Sept. 17: Three-time medalist Cullen Jones will commence the Olympic series and share his story of receiving a gold medal as a member of the famous 2008 U.S. men's 4x100 freestyle relay team. Jones was the second African-American in history to win a gold medal in swimming and also won two silver medals in the recent London Games.
- Tuesday, Sept. 18: Five-time medalist and winner of the 2008 gold medal in all-around gymnastics, Nastia Liukin will address the College community on Sept. 18. Liukin is one of only four American women ever to win a gold medal in all-around gymnastics.
- Wednesday, Sept. 19: Four-time Olympian Aliann Pompey '99 and Joe Ryan '81, members of the 2012 Guyanese Olympic track team, will visit campus on Sept. 19. Since winning the 2000 NCAA indoor title in the 400-meter dash for Manhattan College, Pompey has participated in four Olympic Games and carried the Guyanese flag during two separate opening ceremonies. Ryan, an assistant track and field coach at Manhattan, served as an Olympic coach for the Guyanese national team in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
- Thursday, Sept. 20: Two-time gold medalist Lindy Remigino '53, will return to Manhattan on Sept. 20 to discuss his Olympic track career, specifically at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. At the time, Remigino was a junior on the College's track and field team, and became the first Manhattan College member to win an individual gold medal when he placed first in the 100-meter dash.
- Friday, Sept. 21: Seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda Beard will conclude the weeklong series and discuss her swimming career after participating in four separate Olympic Games. Beard has won two gold medals, her first in the women's 100-meter medley relay at the 1996 Atlanta games at the age of 14.
Each lecture will start at 8 p.m., with the athlete discussing his or her experiences, backgrounds and life lessons, followed by a question and answer segment with the students that will end at 9 p.m.
On Monday, Tuesday and Friday, the lectures will be held in Smith Auditorium, and on Wednesday and Thursday, the lectures will be held in Hayden Hall, room 100.
