Hazel Clark, a three-times United States Olympian, visited the Island for Bermuda Marathon Weekend, sharing her track experiences at a seminar at Hamilton Princess, Bermuda last weekend.

Clark’s visit was sponsored by physio Glenn Robinson and running coach Steve Burgess, who extended the invitation to her in Atlanta where she resides, working as a spokesperson for Nike.

At the seminar, Clark, an 800-metres runner who competed in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, talked about handling anxiety successfully. She has won six national titles and two USA Olympic trials events.

“I knew she was one of the fastest in the world back in the day,” Burgess, a former 800-metres runner, said. “I watched her progress because her sister was competing at Tennessee State while I was at [University of] Georgia.

“I watched Hazel come along and the groundwork for her success was laid early. She picked up an injury two years ago that ended her career.

“I’m always looking to see how Bermuda can develop and so I’m sensitive to when someone is speaking of their success, how that can benefit Bermuda.

“Coming along we had some really good mentors who paved the way and I see myself now in the role of identifying folks who can assist us.

“We were just having lunch and I said to her, ‘you should come and see Bermuda Race Weekend, we put on a fantastic event’ and she said ‘sure, I’m there’.”

Clarke, 38, spoke at the seminar along with Brooks Johnson, a former US sprinter and coach, Geoff Smith, a 10K record holder in Bermuda, and Michael Keogh, who competed for Ireland at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

Clark is the younger sister of Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs and the sister-in-law of Jearl Miles-Clark, also an Olympian.

All three made history when they swept the 2000 Olympic trials 800 metres, Hazel winning, Jearl finishing second and Joetta third. Clark is the daughter of inner-city educator Joe Louis Clark, who inspired the 1989 film Lean on Me, starring Morgan Freeman, and was based on his life as a principal in Paterson, New Jersey.

“At the seminar she delivered a powerful message on handling anxiety successfully,” Burgess said. “She is the daughter of Joe Clark and delivered a powerful message like her father.

“We will build upon that and coming back here to develop programmes for our youth is on the agenda.”

Clark was born in Livingston, New Jersey, and attended the University of Florida on an athletics scholarship and was coached by her brother JJ. While at Florida, Clark was undefeated in SEC competition and won five NCAA titles.

She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2001 and was honoured for her college athletic record when she was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great” in 2012. She finished seventh at the 2000 Olympic Games. Her personal best time was 1min 57.99sec.