Steve Moneghetti's Olympics Story 

Steve Moneghetti visited Mt Pleasant Primary school on Monday 6th of March 2000.  he spoke to our grade 5/6 classes and told us all about the highs and lows of being an olympic marathon runner.

In this photo you can see Steve and Mrs Anne Robertson one of the teachers from our class.

Click on this to cartoon drawn by

Russell Cartledge (Age 10)

"Mona"

STeve is known as Mona to all his many friends around the world

Steve Moneghetti is a fast runner but he wasn’t when he was at primary school he never won any medals or anything like that. The first day he went to little athletics his teacher told Mr Moneghetti (Steve’s dad ) that he was not a good athlete and not to bring him back. But he was wrong because he is an extrodanare athlete.

In high school he started winning medals, ribbons, first ribbons second ribbons but he did not get very many third or forth ribbons.

He mostly got first ribbons and as he grew older he became a really fast runner.

He said he did not really care much about running when he was in primary school but he really does now.

When running a marathon Steve tries to run at the same pace for the whole race. This speed is about 20 kmph, that is 1 km every 3 minutes for 2 hours and 8 minutes.

Steve Moneghetti’s greatest highlights of being an athlete

Steve’s greatest highlight of being an athlete is when he successfully came 3^rd in the 1997 world championship.

Steve also mentioned that he has met some great friends from all over the world including Douglas Wakahoory from Cuba. Douglas is also a marathon runner.

Steve Moneghetti’s intentions for after the Olympics

Steve said that after the year 2000 Olympic games he was planning to retire. And go on doing some other sports and all sorts of things. Steve might play basketball because it is his favourite sport as well as marathon running. Because he is an elite athlete it has not been possible for him to take part in other sports because of the need for so much training and the danger of possible injuries.

Great cheers went up as Russell Mark approached the stage to share the moment of lighting the well waited for Olympic cauldron with Steve Monegetti in Ballarat at the City oval on Friday 28^th of July. As Steve came onto the stage all his Ballarat fans screamed and clapped for him. Steve said that it was a touching moment to be lighting the cauldron in his hometown. It brought a tear to his eyes. Over 15 thousand people turned up to se the great celebrations. Rusell Marks gesture of inviting Steve to share the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron in Ballarat embodies the spirit of the Olympic Games.STEPHANIE & ERICA

Participate in lots of things, not only sport,

When running in a long distance race keep the same pace all the way,                           

It doesn’t matter whether win or you win or loose just do your best.

If you try your hardest you are already a winner.

Nobody can tell you that you can’t do anything, if you want to succeed you will.

Steve Moneghetti is never seen without his sunnies.  As a professional sportsman he knows the importance of looking after his sponsors

After the race he thanked all his supporters in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. he said it was his last marathon.

"Steve Moneghetti over and Out"