inspire me!: Olympics

On Friday 12th October, in Britain's Olympic year, we were pleased to invite people to a fascinating evening, hearing from an Olympic gold medal winner and two members of the support team who made the Olympic and Paralympic London 2012 Games possible; all of whom are alumnae of the school. We also heard from a local Paralympic Torchbearer.

Parents and students heard what it takes to make an Olympic athlete, and the story of our speakers' exciting Olympic and Paralympic journeys.

We were delighted to welcome the following guest speakers:

Dr Stephanie Cook 

Won gold in the inaugural women’s modern pentathlon at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and was awarded MBE in 2001 for services to sport. Steph was a member of the LOCOG athletes’ committee charged with looking after the interests of all competitors, and also works as a GP. Steph left the school in 1990.

Sally Brown 

A physiotherapist working for the English Institute of Sport with the Olympic Men’s Great British rowing team. Sally left the school in 1996.

Serena Gosling 

Worked at LOCOG for the past 4 years as part of the commercial team raising funds to stage the event, with a particular focus on the merchandise (Team GB as well as London 2012). Serena left the school in 1995.

We also heard from our local Paralympic Torchbearer:

Rachel Furley 

Was a Torchbearer for the Paralympic Torch Relay. She has a career in paediatrics and, as a wheelchair user herself, she has an insight into disability and the issues affecting children who use wheelchairs. Rachel works hard to improve the quality of their lives in her working life, volunteers for a sports club for children using wheelchairs, at the children's hospice in Milton and founded and now chairs the charity Bridges to Belarus, which helps over 800 children in Belarus affected by the Chernobyl disaster.