Athletics

Pupils at Meigle Primary School enjoyed a visit from Scottish athlete Eilish McColgan last week as part of the Champions In Scotland initiative.

Eilish competes in the 3000 metres steeplechase and 5000 metres and represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

She was in Meigle for the first of three sessions with the school aimed at helping the pupils learn about achieving personal success through effort and hard work, and overcoming setbacks and viewing failure as a learning opportunity.

Eilish also visited Alyth Primary as part of the inititative where she spoke to all the pupils at a special assembly.

She explained:“I have been involved with the Champions In Scotland initiative, which was set up by the Winning Scotland Foundation, for three years now.

“We visit schools, sometimes addressing large assemblies for inspirational talks like I did at Alyth, but mainly working with small groups such as here at Meigle.

“We did a workshop with the pupils at Meigle about various aspects of success and what it takes in terms of effort to be successful - whether that is in school or work or sport or whatever.

“At this first session I gave the pupils an insight into how I started out in primary six and didn’t make a team until I was 21, and for the next session we will talk about learning from mistakes and overcoming failure.

“I was trying to encourage them that it isn’t it all about talent, it’s also about how much work you are willing to put in, as well as all the other aspects that are involved such as nutrition for example to create the bigger picture.

“The good thing about having three sessions in a school is being able to build up a bit of a relationship with the pupils and see how they are getting on.”

The Champions In Scotland initiative’s stated aim is to“create a nation of young people that achieve their personal best in life”.

Aligned to the curriculum for excellence principles and practice on learning in health and wellbeing, the programme is designed to help young people establish a pattern of health and wellbeing which will be sustained into adult life.