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Future Olympians at the AAU Junior Olympic Games

Photo captured by Lindsey Andrews of MileSplit

Jul 26, 2024

Future Olympians at the AAU Junior Olympic Games

Originally Published on www.milesplit.com
Article written by: Campbell Choate - FloSports

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- On July 26, the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics begins. 

Track and field events will begin at the Stade de France in Saint Denis on Aug. 2 and will continue until the 11th -- the Olympic racewalk, meanwhile, will begin on the streets of France on Aug. 1
But while U.S. Olympians will be preparing for career-defining moments in Paris, equally ambitious young athletes will be vying for their own glory here on American soil. 
Over 13,000 athletes ranging from ages 8 to 18 will head to the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Greensboro, North Carolina, looking to capture their own gold-medal winning moments. 
FloSports Content Manager Cory Mull sat down recently to discuss why the AAU Junior Olympic Games are important for the development of younger athletes and why fans of all ages should tune in. 
Mull has been covering the event since 2017 and will also be in Greensboro for this year's meet. If anyone has seen first-hand how important the national championship meet is for youth athletes, it's him. 
"AAU's goal is to develop the next era of stars in the sport and to further the mission, which is to grow the sport in total," he said. 
When the AAU Junior Olympic Games began in 1967, it was the only track meet of its kind that attracted large numbers from athletes across all ages. Now, multiple athletic brands host large invitational track meets every year, including the New Balance Nationals Outdoor and Nike Outdoor Nationals. 
But 57 years later, AAU still remains the biggest, and arguably the most important, meet. 
"It's the best continual gathering of youth athletics in this country and you see some of the best young athletes in the nation every single year there," Mull said. 
Not to mention, some of this year's U.S. Olympians actually participated in the AAU Junior Olympic Games just a few years back. Historically, Olympians have been borne and bred from this meet. 

Recent Olympians like Sha'Carri Richardson, Grant Holloway, Erriyon Knighton, Quincy Hall and Grace Stark have all competed at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. 

To read the rest of the article by Campbell Choate, click here.
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The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 800,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.   

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