School pupils learnt about life as an Olympic athlete when a top sportsman dropped in to give them a talk.
Long jump star JJ Legede, 26, who won a gold medal in the European Championships and is one of Britain’s Olympic medal hopefuls, paid a visit to The Hermitage Academy in Chester-le-Street in an aim to inspire the young people.
The visit was organised as part of the Sky Sports Living for Sport Project, which aims to get more children interested in sport.
Chris Gibbins, leader and manager of physical education at The Hermitage Academy, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to meet a potential 2012 Olympian who will inspire many of our students to be involved in sport in many different ways.
“This marks seven months of celebrations that will be taking place at the Hermitage Academy in the build-up to the Olympics in London.
“We will be running a six-week club to engage other students in an Olympic-style event and at the end of the six weeks JJ will visit us again for a full school day, where he can talk to and inspire more students in sport.”
Former athlete Darren Campbell, the Sky Sports Living for Sport ambassador, said: “We’re using sport stars and sport skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people.
“Sport helps people think, helps people listen, helps people to speak up and helps people work together. Different sports inspire different people but one thing is true: there’s a sport for everyone and it can change your life.”