MANGAR Makur-Chuot is an explosive athlete and Rio Olympics hopeful targeting the 200 and 400 metres events.
He is also the 2014 National Australian 200 metres gold medalist and the 100 and 200 metres Western Australia State Champion.
He was in Northam last Wednesday to put Northam Senior High School students through their paces.
Based in Perth, Mr Chuot came to town with elite sprint coach Lindsay Bunn.
Mr Bunn said the visit was a chance for students to see an elite athlete in action.
“We find these runs really excite the kids,” he said.
“One day they might be able to say they ran against an Olympic champion.”
With a head start, Mr Chuot won the 200 metre race in a time of 20.78.
During the visit, Mr Bunn said Athletics WA has decided to focus on Northam and the Avon Valley for the next four to five years.
“We will be doing clinics on a periodical basis,” he said.
“We had a lot of reports of talent in this region, and it is obvious kids here are very talented.”
One of these visits will include the launch of little athletics which is due to resume on October 17.
Mr Bunn said it was his belief children need to be taught how to run properly, especially to avoid preventable injuries.
This was a point Mr Chuot agreed with.
“The talent here is world class,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of being there for them and showing them the right techniques.”
Mr Chuot explored the origins of his love for running, saying it is a sport where you have the ability to push yourself.
“The only way to improve is to work harder,” he said.
“All my life I have been playing sport, and all sports need speed – you need to be fast, but you also need to enjoy it.”
Coach Lindsay Bunn said hard work truly was the recipe for success.
“Talent is only about 10 per cent of the equation,” he said.
“If you teach someone elite techniques you would be surprised how quick they are.
“Mangar is the one who applied himself and is now reaping the rewards.”
