OLYMPIAN inspiration was provided to students at Stratford College.
Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw, who finished fifth at the Rio Olympics, joined college students as a guest lecturer for the afternoon to offer an insight into the life of an elite athlete.
Her husband Paul, a former 800m runner who has represented both England and Great Britain, now works as a sports lecturer at the college and welcomed his other half into class to discuss training and conditioning.
The 25-year-old Olympian is current recovering from surgery following a recurring injury in her achilles tendon.
She said: “Pole vaulting incorporates quite a lot of complex movements so I’ve been showing them how I go about studying my own technique.
“I love inspiring people to get involved in sport – if I can help in any way with their education and to get them motivated then that would be ideal.
“I’ve been lucky enough to acquire so much knowledge from the people I’ve worked with. If I can share that with others then I want to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Though she’s now resting, Holly hopes to be back at full fitness in six weeks as she prepares for an important 12 months with the World Championships taking place in the UK in August.
“When a major competition is held in my home country, the crowd is insane,” added Holly.
“It’s great to have so much home support and there’s the opportunity to get a lot of coverage, so it’s that much more important to me.”
Paul was pleased to offer his students the chance to learn from an Olympian.
He added: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to find out more about what it’s like to be an elite athlete and what it takes to compete at an international level.
“They are always ravenous to soak up new information and were determined to make the most of this experience, asking questions about motivation and the team that supports Holly.
“The insight they gained will certainly inform their own practice and have a positive impact on their own career ambitions.”
