Speed skating legend Johann Olav Koss continues to help children with his organization, Right to Play.
With three gold medals, won in world record style, Johann Olav Koss became an Olympic legend at Lillehammer in 1994. Koss was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated after the impressive performance. Possibly more important than the acctuall gold medals, was the fact that Koss donated most of his winnings to the charity Olympic aid, and urged his fellow athletes to do the same. In total, 18 million dollars were raised in short time.
After the Olympics in his home country, Koss retired from speed skating at the early age of just 25 to work for Olympic Aid. Later he was one of the founders of the charity Right to Play, where he is now the president and CEO.
From it's base in Toronto, Canada, Right to Play works to bring health, development and peace to children and youth in unprivileged ares around the world. The New York Times recently featured a long article about Koss and his work, and also about the athletes which support the Norwegian's case. Among the contributers are English football team Chelsea, Ethiopian marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie and 14-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps.
You can read the full story from The New York Times here.