Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt inspires young athletes in Yuma

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma was graced with the presence of one of the best American athletes in recent history this weekend.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt made his way to Yuma to share his expertise and winning mentality with local youth athletes.

The clinic, hosted through Breakthrough Global, welcomed participants ranging in age from eight to 18.

The lessons shared by Merritt were built from the foundation of his own journey, one grounded in hard work and dedication. He emphasized that instilling good habits early can lead to long-term success, both on and off the track.

"The medals are my outer accomplishments," said Merritt. "My inner accomplishments are more of how I handled the journey and how I decided to put myself in a position to just be my best self daily, and it translates. So the earlier on I can catch 'em, the better it is, because it's about creating habits."

Throughout the event, athletes were taught proper running technique and mechanics, but just as important was the message behind Merritt's personal philosophy, something he calls the "Merritt Mindset."

"Merritt Mindset is a set of core values that I believe in...some principles that helped really guide my success," he explained. "Now, I understand that those same principles can be applied to life, to make champions in life."

Whether the young athletes go on to compete professionally or simply carry the lessons into their everyday lives, Merritt says his goal remains the same.

"I'm out here to make those small adjustments, to plant that seed in them for greatness," Merritt expressed.