By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Northborough – Back by popular demand, world champion athlete and motivational speaker Chris Poulos recently paid a visit to the Northborough Summer Recreation program held at Lincoln Elementary School. His visit took place on Aug. 8, during week seven of the eight week program.
“He is really cool and the kids really like him,” said Allie Lane, director of the program.
Abby Soraci, camp co-director, agreed and shared that there were 125 campers, preschool through 8th grade, during week seven.
Poulos has won 85 worldwide competitions, notably the 1991 Bicycle Stunt World Championships in Denmark when he was 20 years of age as well as back to back National Bicycle Stunt Championships in the U.S. in 1990 and 1991.
When his competitive career was sidelined due to a series of injuries he turned to helping others through motivational speaking, particularly speaking to young encouraging them to lead positive lives.
Poulos’ said that his visit was a special treat for the kids who are 3 to 5 years of age because they don’t go on field trips. However, his presentation was enjoyed by all the campers and counselors.
“I’m going to show them my stunts, I’m going to talk about my life, tell them about my sport but I’m also going to share some ways that they can lead better and safer lives,” he said.
“I’ll talk about how they can make and keep friends, include each other and kindness, the same things that our parents taught us when we were kids, I just share it with them,” he added.
The audience was captivated as Poulos wove life lessons among his stunts in an hour long program. The premise of his life and the final message he relayed was, “Treat people better than you would want to be treated.”
For more information about the Northborough Recreation Department, visit: http://www.northboroughrecreation.com.
Photos/Melanie Petrucci