Citius – Altius – Fortius. Faster – Higher – Stronger.

By DeeDee Dupree
    Perhaps no other symbol is more easily recognizable to athletes from every race, country, and continent than these 5 colorful, interlocking rings. The rings stand for excellence, the best of the best, and a place where athletes dedicate their lives to compete. In actuality, these rings are intended to represent all nations as they come together to compete against one another in unity. 
    Central resident, Billy Hardin, is all too familiar with the type of training and dedication it takes to compete at this level. Billy is the son of Olympic Gold Winner, Glenn “Slats” Hardin, who won a silver medal in 1932.  He dominated Track and Field 400 meter hurdles, and then went on to win the coveted gold medal in 1936. Billy admitted those were big shoes to fill. Rather than trying to reach the extraordinary level his father achieved, Billy concentrated on blazing his own trail, and doing his own personal best.  
    After graduating from Baton Rouge High School, Billy went on to LSU and began training with Coach Al Moreau.  With Al’s training and mentorship, Billy won the NCAA Championship in 400 meter intermediate hurdles and was a 3-time All-American. 
    In speaking with Billy, and hearing all of his accomplishments, I couldn’t be more impressed. It wasn’t until he had won several National Championships when he realized that the 1964 Olympics was even an obtainable goal. The year 1964 was a whirlwind for him, winning the AAU and NCAA titles.  That is when the biggest opportunity of his life was achieved. Billy won his spot on the USA Team to compete in Tokyo in the 1964 Olympics. 
    “The moment we were all lined up and headed into the stadium was like nothing I can describe. As we entered, the crowd erupted, standing to their feet in applause. It was really breathtaking,” Billy admitted. He described the overwhelming emotions that consumed him as he stood proudly wearing his USA uniform and standing in the place his father stood many years ago. “That is what I will remember the most,” he stated. I could see the emotion in his eyes, this opportunity was a dream come true. Unfortunately, Billy did not bring home a medal from the Tokyo Olympics, but win or lose, nothing could replace the feeling of pride he received simply from being there, representing his country. 
    The following year, Billy took a coaching job in Alabama from 1965–1970. Another proud moment for Billy was the onset of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He was chosen to carry the torch through Baton Rouge as it made its way to its destination.  In 1998 he was inducted into the LSU Sports Hall of Fame, a spot his father had held since 1962. He is now a proud father of two sons and five grandkids. Since retiring, he enjoys volunteering at his granddaughter’s school in their track and field program. He certainly has had a memorable career, and it was my pleasure hearing the story of his life and journey as an Olympian. This talented athlete achieved a goal most of us only witness every four years. 
    Another talented athlete I had the privilege of interviewing during this Olympic season is 19 year old Myles Nash. In 2011, Myles took home the Gold Medal in “Olympic Lifting” at the AAU Junior Olympic Games held in New Orleans. If there was ever a dedicated young man to both academics and athletics, it is Myles. He began weightlifting when he was twelve years old. He played football for St. Alphonsus in middle school and went on to Catholic High where he excelled at varsity football, wrestling, and weightlifting. Being mentored by coach Gayle Hatch, Myles qualified at regional competitions and attended the 2010 Championship in Virginia Beach, which paved his way to the 2011 – XLV Junior Olympics. Competing at this level took a great deal of dedication, training and sacrifice. All of his hard work paid off when he competed in the 94+kg (207 lb) weight class. “The whole experience has been great. All the training really benefited me in all my sports endeavors. It was wonderful working with my coach and representing my country with my team,” he stated proudly. Since graduation from Catholic High, Myles now attends Southern University on a full Academic Scholarship. When I asked him what the best part of the Olympic experience was, he said, “The nature of the competition, and competing against yourself, pushing yourself, and achieving goals you didn’t know you could.” 
    When I asked both Billy and Myles why they felt everyone was so captivated by the Olympics, their answers differed slightly, but we all agreed that it is one time, every four years, where each country comes together, with one common goal. During that Olympic Season, we all feel like we are part of a team that is greater than anything we could achieve on our own. With each medal the USA wins, we all feel pride as Americans or feel the disappointment from a loss. It is the spirit of camaraderie and the support we offer these dedicated athletes, and I feel that is what the Olympics are all about. 
GO TEAM USA! Pictured below, top to bottom: Billy Hardin, Billy Hardin, Myles Nash (second from left)