Olympic track and field stars of the past and, potentially, the future led sessions for excited school pupils at an Athletics for All event organised by the Lloyd Cowan Bursary in conjunction with London Marathon Events.
Among the stars putting youngsters through their paces at Lee Valley Athletics Track were Christine Ohuruogu, the 2008 Olympic 400m champion, Yamile Aldama, three times Olympian and triple jump World Championships gold, silver and bronze medallist, and Montell Douglas, also known as ‘Fire’ on BBC’s rebooted Gladiators, who is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a former British record holder over 100 metres.
Children from primary schools across north London attended the free Athletics for All event which was created to inspire activity among under-represented young people and to increase awareness of the Lloyd Cowan Bursary.
Lloyd Cowan was an international hurdler and world-leading coach who helped a number of athletes, including Ohuruogu and Douglas, to achieve great success on the global stage. He died in January 2021 and the bursary in his name was set up later that year to support the next generation of UK athletes and coaches, especially those for whom cost is a barrier to achieving their potential in the sport.
Former athlete turned Gladiator, Douglas said: “I knew Lloyd Cowan personally. He helped me to win a European Championships Under 23 silver medal and he was a real inspiration to all of us. I really believe in the importance of the Athletics for All events.
“It’s really important for the children to have a dedicated space to celebrate what sport can do for them. It’s not about being the best and winning medals. Most athletes don’t start their sport because of that – we start it because we love to take part in sport and activity. My best memories of sport were at my school sport days or fun local events, like today, so I know that something like this [Athletics for All] is something they will all remember. There are so many smiles and happy faces…and that’s what it’s about. It’s paramount that we give them more opportunities to learn and grow.”
Among those enjoying the coaching expertise of a TV Gladiator, as well as Ohuruogu, Aldama and former Olympic high jumper Dalton Grant, were more than 150 pupils aged 10 and 11 from local primary schools in Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest and Barnet, who were put through their paces in running, jumping and throwing.
Children from Livingstone Primary & Nursery School attended with their teacher, Mrs Church, who said about the event: “The children were very excited about meeting the Olympians - the staff were very excited about meeting the Olympians as well!
“It's so important to stay active and for children to have opportunities like Athletics for All. Our school tries to encourage every child to get involved and represent the school or join a sports club at least once, and we have managed to do that, but I think events like this help promote sport for everybody. It has inspired the children seeing all of the Olympians and I've already got children saying they want to join an athletics club.
“We do put a huge emphasis on sport in our school. Not only for the competitiveness but for the physical and mental health benefits, which is why an event like Athletics for All is really good because it isn't competitive. It's about challenging yourself and seeing how far you can go.”
London Marathon Events helped the Lloyd Cowan Bursary deliver the event as part of its commitment to providing opportunities for children and young people to be physically active.
Layla Hall, Schools Engagement Manager at London Marathon Events, said: “We were delighted to help the Lloyd Cowan Bursary put on the latest Athletics for All event. We helped host the inaugural event last summer and were delighted with how much the schoolchildren enjoyed themselves. London Marathon Events is passionate about ensuring all children and young people have opportunities to take part in physical activity and to be inspired to continue enjoying sport and being active as they grow up.
“Athletics for All is both fun and inspirational thanks to the incredible team of coaches from the Lloyd Cowan Bursary. We hope the pupils who took part now start on a journey of activity, whether that is just enjoying sport in school or striving to be the next Gladiator.”