Double Olympic winner Kelly Holmes inspires golden values

Pupils were inspired by a double Olympic champion as they were encouraged to take part in their school sports day.

Dame Kelly Holmes, who won gold in the 800m and 1,500m at the 2004 Athens Games, visited Magnus Church of England Academy, Newark, as part of her Join In June campaign.

She has been travelling around the country trying to inspire more people to get involved in sport.

Last week, Dame Kelly posted on Twitter asking if any schools near Lincolnshire wanted her to visit them as she travelled south from Scunthorpe.

The Magnus quickly replied, posting a video introduced by 14-year-old Aaron Munro, which panned out to show hundreds of pupils.

They were lined up to spell Kelly, before they shouted the Join In June slogan.

Dame Kelly retweeted the video and decided to visit the academy for just over an hour.

“The video was cool and it certainly caught the eye,” she said.

“The academy is keen to get children involved in sport, which is fantastic.

“It is trying to promote a lot of really good values that are so important in sport and in life.

“Schools can play a big part in getting more young people into physical activity because they can set the standard and give youngsters the right attitude for the future.

“The whole campaign has been great. I have been up and down the country and seen so many people who have been inspired to take part.

“I have been to boot camps with women of all ages, and a Parkrun where one guy was 87 and had done over 200 runs — it has been inspirational.”

While at the Magnus, Dame Kelly coached PE students how to make the best start from sprint blocks, and took advice on how to throw a javelin.

To complete her visit, the Olympic ace took pupils on a run around the 300m running track.

The Magnus was in the middle of its transition week, meaning year six pupils from schools across the area were given the opportunity to meet Dame Kelly.

Magnus head Mrs Anna Martin said Dame Kelly was the embodiment of all the values the academy wanted to instil in its pupils.

“She has helped us promote the values of determination, humility, ambition, compassion, and integrity that we are striving for every day,” Mrs Martin said.

“To have a double Olympian come here is an unbelievable opportunity and, no doubt, has left many pupils inspired.

“Sport is a huge part of what we are trying to do because it gives young people so many different values.

“We managed to get the video done in the space of an afternoon.

“The fact we were able to get so many pupils on board and organised to do it just showed how far we have come as a school.”