Finishing is Winning: Olympian Rod Dixon Inspires Students at KGV

Famous Olympian and NYC Marathon winner Rod Dixon visited KGV, which was organized by the Athletic Veterans Of Hong Kong (AVOHK). As part of this momentous collaboration between ESF and AVOHK, Rod started his visit by watching several students during PE class, observing them run and giving them a few words of inspiration.

Rod then spoke to some students and staff of KGV, asking everyone to stand and do a few stretches before he begun. During his talk, Rod firstly elaborated on his experiences participating in the 1972 Summer Olympic games. He shared some fascinating stories when he competed at the Olympics, placing third in the 1500 metre race and winning a bronze medal at the final podium. Although he did not achieve coming out on top, Rod stressed that being first isn’t something we should always aim for. Instead, he said we should remember that finishing is winning the race.

Winning a bronze medal in the Summer Olympic Games did not keep Rod down, as he continued to push himself to the best of his ability. His hard work, perseverance and dedication to the sport led to his participation in the 1983 NYC Marathon. Students and teachers were amazed when Rod showed everyone footage from the live broadcast of the marathon. Throughout most of the race, Rod never led. However, he never gave up, pushing himself constantly and focusing on what he had been training for.

Rod won the NYC Marathon by close margins, reaching the finish line in first place. To the audience’s surprise, Rod also shared that he always keeps his Olympic Medal with him, allowing everyone to touch and observe his remarkable award. Students and staff were left inspired, learning from Rod’s astonishing journey that we should always persevere and never give up on our dreams.

KGV would like to thank Colin and AVOHK who made Rod’s visit possible. Everyone is highly appreciative and grateful for Rod’s time at our school, as he looks on to inspire the next generation of runners.