Olympic rower Justin Best recently answered questions during a virtual visit with fifth graders at Lido Elementary School. The rower will be representing the United States in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics following his first Olympic experience in Tokyo 2020.

The nearly 40-minute conversation with the Olympian was an interview conducted by Lido fifth grader Thomas Gregory as part of a school project.

In a live Google Meet, Mr. Best answered Thomas’ well-researched questions with the diligence and perseverance of a world-class athlete. The Long Beach students were most fascinated by the attention to nutrition, the expansive workout facilities with mountain views. Mr. Best shared, “High altitude training increases endurance and sports performance.” Just before their visit, Best finished a 90-minute workout on the erg, a rowing machine. He explained, “Since there is no place to row in the mountains, they must use erg machines.”

The biggest lesson learned, said Best, “If you believe in yourself, work hard, eat healthy, listen to your parents, it was their idea he pursues crew, and persevere, you might become an Olympian or at the very least, you might become your best self.”

Following the student-to-athlete interview, Justin Best met with other fifth grade classes throughout the district and gave a virtual tour of the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado and then answered their questions.

DAte Added: 2/2/2023