Local Olympian Connie Moore
Setting an Example for Chicago Girls
By Paul Slomski, WSC Contributor
Connie Moore grew up on the South side of Chicago, attending South Shore High School, where she earned a track scholarship to Penn State University. She became the first woman from the Nittnay Lions track team to make an Olympic roster as a member of the 4x100 relay team in the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. As a youngster, she always knew she was fast from playing games like tag, Mr. Freeze and winning countless races in her neighborhood, but chose to focus on her favorite sport basketball. That is, until a park supervisor, Ms. Collins, from Chicago Park District’s Owens Park saw her race a few of the boys and told her to put down the basketball and start running. After some further convincing, she eventually agreed and joined the track team at South Shore. As she likes to tell it, “the rest is history.” She has a great message to share and makes time to volunteer with World Sport Chicago throughout the year to let other young girls know what inspired her as a child, “I had the desire to do something more with my life. I knew there was a big world out there and I wanted to see it. I wasn't sure how or when that was going to happen; I just knew it was going to happen.”
Moore spent the week of April 19, 2010 visiting a number of Girls In The Game after-school programs throughout the City. She takes time out to connect with girls across the city because she was once one of them, “I had the same problems, I had the same issues, and had to overcome some of the same obstacles that they have today. But in spite of all the problems, issues and obstacles I managed to still make something positive of my life. I am now living my fairy tale life because I believed in my talents and my God given ability. It didn't matter how tough the road has gotten, I knew that I would persevere and I could only get stronger and move forth from it. I want to help organizations such as Girls in the Game realize that they are no different. 
It doesn't matter where you are from, how you may look or financial status, your life is your life to live and with the right decisions and a sense of direction, your fairy tale life is right around the corner. I believe that sometimes youth tend to turn in the wrong direction because that is the only direction that was made clear to them. They didn't necessarily have that guide to steer them down the right road. And if more successful people that were a product of inner city living would take the time to show the youth that they care we may not have some of the issues with children that we have today. I want to be a person that youth can turn to for advice, motivation and inspiration. If I can dream big and live it out loud, they can too.”
Girls In the Game is a not-for-profit organization in Chicago that provides and promotes sports & fitness opportunities, nutrition & health education, and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well-being of all girls. Its signature after-school program can be found in a number of city schools and park district facilities, working with girls from 3rd grade through high school. The program provides girls with lessons in being a good teammate, sportsmanship, leadership, nutrition and exposes them to ten sports throughout a thirty-week period. Girls get hands-on opportunities with the equipment, and plenty of chances to share what they have learned throughout the class. A few field trips are scheduled throughout the year and every once in a while, a guest like Moore will participate as well. Coach Elizabeth from Girls In The Game expressed how great it was to have someone the girls could relate to, “she is a positive role-model, with great accomplishments who grew up in their neighborhood.”
Moore concluded her busy week with Girls In The Game at their annual Girl’s Summit. Penn State proudly proclaims her as one of their best athletes to ever come out of the school. She currently resides in Chula Vista, California where she is training at the Olympic Training Center under the guidance of Al Joyner in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.