Burroughs encourages kids to be great
By Tim Schwartz
Baltimore Sun
Next month at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Jordan Burroughs will attempt to become the first freestyle wrestler since 1992 to win back-to-back gold medals.
But on July 11 at Morgan State University, the games seemed like an afterthought for him.
Burroughs, 28, spent hours working with dozens of city youths during a clinic and fundraiser for Beat the Streets – Baltimore, a program that provides "a positive environment that nurtures physical and mental development through wrestling, mentoring and tutoring programs," according to its website.
"I am a busy man at this point in time. I have two little ones; I have a wife at home, but I'm blessed to be able to do stuff like this. This is important," said Burroughs, who won two NCAA championships at University of Nebraska in 2009 and 2011 before winning gold in the 74-kg (163-pound) weight class in London in 2012.
"It's easy to be selfish and focus on what you have to do and what you need to do to accomplish your goals and be like, 'I'll give back later,' but there's no better time than now."
Throughout the afternoon, Burroughs seemingly spent time with every kid in the room. He showed off his muscles to a group of 9 and 10-year-old girls, who were also curious to know why his ears looked so puffy.
He brought kids up to the front of the mat to show off their favorite wrestling moves. He taught kids how to play a game called "king of the ring," where two opponents square off and try to push the other out of the center circle of the wrestling mat.
He smiled for hundreds of photos and signed wrestling shoes.
Wherever Burroughs went around the two mats in the gym at Hill Field House, the room of kids followed.
"I've been going to wrestling camps for a long time, and this is one of the few technicians who has this charisma," said Cortez Hayes, who has been a wrestling coach for 22 years and head coach at DuVal High School in Lanham since 2009. "I think that actually brings people closer to him and for them to understand him. ... He's electrifying.
"It's almost like a superhero and the superhero comes to life and he's here. They can touch him and take pictures with him, and it's like, 'Wow.' It may not stick to them now, maybe down the road or next month when he's at the Olympic Games they will be like, 'Hey, I was here with him.' That sends a loud message."
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Baltimore Sun
Next month at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Jordan Burroughs will attempt to become the first freestyle wrestler since 1992 to win back-to-back gold medals.
But on July 11 at Morgan State University, the games seemed like an afterthought for him.
Burroughs, 28, spent hours working with dozens of city youths during a clinic and fundraiser for Beat the Streets – Baltimore, a program that provides "a positive environment that nurtures physical and mental development through wrestling, mentoring and tutoring programs," according to its website.
"I am a busy man at this point in time. I have two little ones; I have a wife at home, but I'm blessed to be able to do stuff like this. This is important," said Burroughs, who won two NCAA championships at University of Nebraska in 2009 and 2011 before winning gold in the 74-kg (163-pound) weight class in London in 2012.
"It's easy to be selfish and focus on what you have to do and what you need to do to accomplish your goals and be like, 'I'll give back later,' but there's no better time than now."
Throughout the afternoon, Burroughs seemingly spent time with every kid in the room. He showed off his muscles to a group of 9 and 10-year-old girls, who were also curious to know why his ears looked so puffy.
He brought kids up to the front of the mat to show off their favorite wrestling moves. He taught kids how to play a game called "king of the ring," where two opponents square off and try to push the other out of the center circle of the wrestling mat.
He smiled for hundreds of photos and signed wrestling shoes.
Wherever Burroughs went around the two mats in the gym at Hill Field House, the room of kids followed.
"I've been going to wrestling camps for a long time, and this is one of the few technicians who has this charisma," said Cortez Hayes, who has been a wrestling coach for 22 years and head coach at DuVal High School in Lanham since 2009. "I think that actually brings people closer to him and for them to understand him. ... He's electrifying.
"It's almost like a superhero and the superhero comes to life and he's here. They can touch him and take pictures with him, and it's like, 'Wow.' It may not stick to them now, maybe down the road or next month when he's at the Olympic Games they will be like, 'Hey, I was here with him.' That sends a loud message."
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