Scott Russell was officially inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Sunday night in Topeka.
Russell joined 11 other former coaches and athletes in the 2024 class, including former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino and former Kansas City Chiefs player Will Shields.
At the ceremony Sunday, he spoke about his journey from Canada to Kansas, falling in love with track and field throwing events and competing in the Olympics.
“You have to continue to do these things because you have passion for them and love them,” he said. “And that’s kind of why I’m doing what I’m doing now at Eudora High School.”
After working for over a decade to make it to the Olympics, Russell said it was a surreal feeling to reach that stage. But after he was done competing, it left him with a new challenge: what to do next.
Russell said teaching ran in his family, and after he finished his competitive athletic career, he decided to make the career switch, which eventually led him to Eudora.
You can read more about Russell’s journey to the Hall of Fame here. Find more about his Olympic story and how it inspires him today here.
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
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