Damu began her journey to become an Olympian after college when she moved to Gainesville to train with other Olympians. For her to be the best, she had to surround herself with the best. In 2004 the training group moved to Clermont, and she began her quest to qualify for the 2008 Olympic team. With eleven years of professional training, Damu made three world championship teams as well as the 2008 Olympic team. During this time, she ranked top three in the world.
Damu retired in 2012 from track and coached for three years with her track club, Star Athletics. She is the current vice president of Star Athletics, LLC, and her husband, three-time Olympic Medalist Dennis Mitchell leads the professional track club.
Damu’s talk at the Chamber Breakfast focused on the never-ending story everyone has as they strive to achieve their goals.
Joining Damu was 2020 Olympian, Kaylin Whitney who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Games and won the gold in the 4×400 m relay and bronze in the mixed relay.
FRIDAY’S CHAMBER BREAKFAST WAS INDEED A BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS!
Another champion recognized at the breakfast was Pavlos Tentomas, a Montverde Academy student who was awarded the Ray Goodgame Outstanding Student Leader Award (learn more by following the LINK)