Olympic champion gives advice to pupils
OLYMPIC gold medallist and world record holding cyclist Dani King has spent time talking to students at Hinckley Academy.
King won gold in the women’s team pursuit at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, along with teammates Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell, who set a world record time in the event.
Made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to cycling, she had hoped to defend her title in Rio this year but a serious training crash took her out of action and team selectors have ruled her out of a chance of reprising the track victory.
Hinckley Academy’s head of Year 8 Marc Howgate said: “Dani talked with 385 students in the morning, reflecting on her experiences as an Olympic athlete and the mental resilience she has had to show during her career, something all our students will need in the build up towards their exams and for their own life experiences.”
All the students who attended are preparing to compete in an school sports day in July, an event that pupils take part in by choice.
Later, seven selected students who are considering sporting careers were given the chance to talk to Dani separately.
Mr Howgate said: “The selected students have excelled in their own sports and in some cases have regional or international honours.
“They spoke to Dani as a group but prepared individual questions for her after being given a topic each to research at home such as anxiety, stress, diet etc.”
He added: “We wish Dani all the best for her future career on track and know the students will remember this once in a lifetime experience.”