Recently, 45 promising young athletes took a significant step towards elite sporting success by learning directly from Olympic medallists at a special mentoring event hosted at the iconic London Aquatics Centre. The event, held on Wednesday, 28th August, coincided with the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
Among the mentors were Olympic heroes like Richard Kilty, fresh from his bronze medal-winning performance in the men’s 100m sprint relay at the Paris Olympics. The event was hosted by Olympic sprint legend Colin Jackson, alongside an esteemed panel of sports stars including taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad and sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. These Olympians shared their personal experiences and offered invaluable advice to the young athletes. The mentors covered crucial topics such as mental resilience, handling the pressures of competition, bouncing back from injuries, and even media training.
The event marked a key moment for Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions programme, a nationwide initiative dedicated to nurturing young sporting talent across the country. Everyone Active has been managing the London Aquatics Centre since March 2024, and this mentoring day is one of three scheduled for the year. This highlights the organisation’s commitment to developing local athletes by providing them with access to the wisdom and experience of Olympic champions.
Young athletes in attendance, such as Archie Newbold, a 13-year-old footballer on the England Cerebral Palsy pathway, found the day invaluable. “It was a great day and an amazing insight into what it takes to become elite in sport,” Archie shared. “Listening to the team discuss how their careers started and what they had in place at a similar stage gave me so many ideas I can take away to work on with my coaches.”
Fourteen-year-old swimmer Paris Fairhurst also felt inspired by the event. “Meeting the elite athletes and ambassadors who have achieved so much was very exciting, and they were all so friendly,” Paris said. “I especially enjoyed the media training and the tips, which I hope to use in the future.”
Chris Wells, Everyone Active’s Contract Manager, was equally pleased with the event’s success. “We are thrilled to have hosted this mentoring event at the London Aquatics Centre, a venue that truly embodies the spirit of athletic achievement. We hope these young athletes are now better equipped to navigate the challenges of elite sports, thanks to the wisdom and experience shared by their Olympic mentors. We’re proud to support their journey through the Sporting Champions programme.”
In addition to providing mentoring opportunities, the Sporting Champions programme offers aspiring athletes free access to over 230 leisure facilities across the country. This vital resource enables these athletes to train and hone their skills as they work towards achieving their sporting dreams.
Other Sporting Champions mentors include renowned athletes such as Maisie Summers-Newton, Lauren Steadman, and twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova. The entire panel of elite athletes is scheduled to convene once again in October for another mentoring event at Porchester Hall, Bayswater. This upcoming event will also feature an annual awards ceremony celebrating the outstanding achievements of the young athletes involved in the Sporting Champions scheme.
