Taylor Bembery and William Owens
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writers
Jackson State University alumnus and 2012 Summer Olympics silver medal winner, Michael Tinsley, spoke to students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters on Oct. 19, 2012 in the conference room inside The Penguin restaurant.
Tinsley, who competed in the 400-meter men’s hurdles, finishing with a personal best of 47.91 seconds, returned to his alma mater to enjoy homecoming festivities and to pay homage to the university that has made an impact on his career as an athlete.
The event started with a short greeting to Tinsley from Dr. Vivian L. Fuller, director of athletics at JSU.
“We are going to embrace Michael. We want you to always come back. It’s people like Michael that we have to give grace because this is our future and we have to let our children know what our future is,” said Fuller.
Fuller also said that the Department of Athletics is in the process of implementing a program so that student athletes can send Tinsley letters to see how he is doing on his road to the next Olympic Games. This program will be coordinated by the management team in efforts to make Tinsley know he has full support from the university and also be able to interact with students.
Tinsley, who was dressed in JSU breast cancer awareness paraphernalia, first took the podium to thank everyone for coming out and supporting him.
Tinsley explained what he found most difficult preparing for the Olympics.
“Once I got to London, it was so much media, people, different athletes, and parties going on. I really just had to stay focused and to myself on what I was there for, which was to run and try to win a medal,” said Tinsley
Tinsley mentioned how he plans to prepare for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Tinsley won’t be changing much of the training that he did for the last Olympics but is open to change in the future.
“For the next Olympics, I’ll probably do the same things I did this year to make this team. 2016 is a while a way so there is a lot of different things that will change in my training from now and in the future,” said Tinsley.
Tinsley also was asked will he be using the JSU facilities to train for the next Olympic games.
“I’m sure I will use the JSU facilities to train. I have been here several different times training with the track team and I’ve been in the Walter Payton Center before, it’s very state of the art. I definitely wouldn’t mind training at anything JSU has to offer,” said Tinsley.
A token of appreciation was given to the Olympian from JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers who explained that she is not a serious television watcher but she was tuned into the Olympics and was ecstatic when Tinsley claimed the silver medal.
“Imagine running around an empty house screaming my head off! I was so fortunate that it was a great day and a new day for Jackson State University,” said Meyers.
Meyers also added that she has a savings fund along with her grandchildren to attend the 2016 Olympic games to cheer for Tinsley once again.
Billie Tinsley, the mother of Michael Tinsley, explained that she is so thankful for JSU and that she enjoys when he gets recognition from his alma mater the most. She also added her first emotion when she saw her son race across the finish line to become an Olympic medal winner.
“I cried, because he had been fighting and struggling so hard, then the boy won! I was lost for words, it was so amazing,” said Billie Tinsley
After the press conference was over Tinsley signed autographs and took pictures with guests. Tinsley had some advice to give to students who wish to follow in his footsteps of becoming an Olympian.
“Follow your goals whether it’s in track and field, basketball, or even academics. Stay determined, I didn’t make my first Olympic team when I tried out in 2008. I missed two world teams that I tried out for by one spot. So it hasn’t always been easy, it’s not going to be an easy road to try to get to your goals but always stay determined and focused on what you want to do,” said Tinsley.
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