Sports legends gathered at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to discuss how sports unite communities, as the Oklahoma City Thunder near an NBA championship.

INCREDIBLE ATHLETES. SPORTS BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER LIKE NOTHING ELSE CAN. EVERY YEAR, TENS OF THOUSANDS RUN IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON, AND NOW THE STATE IS RALLYING AROUND THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER ON THEIR HISTORIC RUN TO AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP. SPORTS. TRANSCEND EVERYTHING. LOCAL AND GLOBAL ICONS IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS CAME TOGETHER WEDNESDAY AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM TO EXPLORE HOW SPORTS UNIFIES COMMUNITIES. THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER SAY THE CITY HAS CHANGED SINCE THE TEAM LANDED IN 2008, BUT THE ONE CONSTANT HAS BEEN THE LOUD AND LOYAL FAN BASE. SPORTS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL EQUALIZER. EVERYBODY SORT OF ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD, SO TO SPEAK. YOU ALSO ARE EXPERIENCING THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS TOGETHER, SO IT REALLY DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF UNITING A COMMUNITY. THE 25TH OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON SAW 26,000 REGISTERED RUNNERS FROM 17 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND ALL 50 STATES. IT’S A BIG DEAL TO GET ALL THOSE EYES FOCUSING NOT JUST ON THE GROWTH OF THE CITY, BUT ALSO THE STORY OF THE MEMORIAL AND APRIL 19TH, 1995. TWO OLYMPIC MEDALISTS SAT ON THE PANEL, INCLUDING MEB KEFLEZIGHI, THE FIRST ATHLETE TO WIN THE NEW YORK CITY AND BOSTON MARATHON AND MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS, ALONG WITH MARATHON LEGEND JOAN SAMUELSON. THE FIRST WOMEN’S MARATHON WINNER. WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT FOR THE GREATER CAUSE, YOUR BODY, YOUR SOUL, YOUR MIND IS ON THE SAME SPIRIT THAT COULDN’T BE ANYWHERE ELSE. SO I JUST KEPT PUSHING AND PUSHING AND THE CROWD GOT INTO IT. THEY’RE LIKE, YOU SAY USA.

Advertisement Oklahoma sports legends highlight the unifying power of sports Sports legends gathered at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to discuss how sports unite communities, as the Oklahoma City Thunder near an NBA championship. Editorial Standards ⓘ

Sports legends convened at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum on Wednesday to discuss the impact of sports in unifying communities, coinciding with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s pursuit of an NBA championship. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel”Sports transcends everything,” said Joan Samuelson, the first women’s marathon champion.The Oklahoma City Thunder said that since the team arrived in 2008, the city has changed, but the fanbase has remained loud and loyal.”Sports is such a wonderful equalizer. Everyone is on the same playing field, so to speak. You’re also experiencing the highs and the lows together, so it really does a wonderful job of uniting a community,” said Erin Lewis, director of brand influence and identity for the Thunder.The 25th Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon attracted 26,000 registered runners from 17 countries and all 50 states.”It’s a big deal to get all those eyes focusing not just on the growth of the city, but the story of the Memorial and April 19, 1995,” said Chris Fleming, chair of the OKC Memorial Marathon.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The panel included two Olympic medalists: Meb Keflezighi, the first athlete to win both the NYC and Boston marathons and medal at the Olympics, and marathon legend Samuelson.”When you are doing it for the greater cause, your body, your soul, your mind is in the same spirit, and I just kept pushing, and the crowd was like ‘USA, USA,’” said Keflezighi.Top Headlines WATCH: Confirmed tornado spotted near Ringwood Anne Burrell, ‘Worst Cooks in America’ host and Food Network star, dies at 55 Judge dismisses lawsuit on controversial social studies standards OKC police prepare for celebrations if Thunder clinch NBA title Former AG plans to appeal social studies standards suit dismissal Georgia woman declared brain dead delivers baby