Olympian and Gold Medal winner Tim Montgomery visited with students at the Gadsden Job Corps Center last week, talking to students about making good choices in life.
Montgomery won a gold medal in the 400 relay in the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney and a silver medal in the Atlanta games in 1996.
In 2002, he set a record of 9.78 seconds in the 100 meter, making him the “fastest man in the world” at that time.
However, as Montgomery told students, a series of bad choices in his personal life led him to trouble and heartbreak.
Montgomery was banned from the sport for two years amidst allegations of using performance enhancing drugs.
In 2008 he admitted using drugs during part of his time as a competitor.
He has maintained he was not using drugs at the time he set the world record.
Montgomery, having retired from his sport after he received the two-year ban, became involved in a check-kiting scheme. In 2008, he began serving a four and a half years in federal prison for involvement in a check-kiting scheme.
But Montgomery has worked to turn his life around.
He now is working to reach out to young people with a positive message of hope and perseverance.
His message to students was that they can be successful by making better decisions and remaining determined to reach their goals.
The assembly ended with a standing ovation for Montgomery, Tom Sanders, business-community liaison director at Gadsden Job Corps, said.
He said the students, staff and faculty at Job Corps appreciated the assistance of Stenardo Brown, a friend of Montgomery’s, in helping to bring him to Gadsden, where he also spoke to Gadsden City High School students.
Sanders said he appreciated Etowah County Commissioner Carolyn Parker and C.E.D. Mental Health for their participation and support.