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Sports

Olympic Gold Medalist From Lutz Wows Shriners Hospital Crowd

Recent first-place Olympic women's relay race winner Tianna Madison of Lutz stopped by Shriners Hospital for Children Tampa to visit youngsters and their parents.

Rebecca McCormack couldn’t take her eyes off the woman seated beside her with a gold medal dangling from her neck.

She was awestruck by the likes of Tianna Madison, who on Monday paid a visit to , where as a patient there, Rebecca was overjoyed to have her photo taken with a person she calls her “hero.”

Madison, 26, of Lutz, recently led the United States women’s relay team to victory in London’s 2012 Olympics. It was the first time since 1992 the American women’s 4-x-100 meter relay team finished first in the event.

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They also set a new world record.

“I’ve never met someone like this,” said 12-year-old Rebecca. “I’ve never seen someone run that fast, and I just think she’s really, really cool.”

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Likewise Linda Greiff, who also was on hand with her 12-year-old daughter of the same name with Rett syndrome who’s also a Shriners’ patient, was equally impressed with Madison’s extraordinary accomplishment.

“It’s a once-in-a-life occasion to meet someone who’s won a gold medal,” she said.

What especially stuck out in Greiff’s mind was Madison’s seemingly genuine demeanor and her kindness toward the throngs of children with disabilities and parents who swarmed around her.

“Not only did they care about her, but she was truly interested in them, too,” she said.

Shriners’ public relations director Bethanne Demas said she was proud to have the opportunity to bring Madison on campus.

“She’s someone who represents the best of the best in the Olympics and she is an inspiration to our patients,” she said.

Madison credits her husband, John Bartoletta, with helping her adhere to her rigorous 200-day training program leading up to the Olympics.

Six days a week, she trekked two and a half hours one way to Daytona to train with Rana Reider, widely considered to be one of the top track and field coaches in the world.

She also stuck to a daily diet regimen that consisted of protein shakes, two pounds of steak, a bag of mushrooms and a bag of spinach. Drinking plenty of water also was part of her routine.

Aside from the physical aspects of preparing for the Olympics, she called the experience “mentally intense.”

Madison attended Elyria High School in Ohio where she made the honor roll each of her four years and in 2003 was named Gatorade Ohio High School Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Madison also won a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics.

In her spare time, Madison founded and is president of Club 360, a program to help young women make educated decisions toward building healthy lifestyles.

The club’s mission is primarily focused on three factors she said she believes are crucial toward any women’s wellbeing: living a life of integrity, honor and self-respect.

Role models like Madison are meant to help further the cause.

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