“When you work hard and keep trying, even when you are faced with a setback or challenge, you will learn how to be successful!” - Heather Fell OLY visits Queen Eleanor C of E Junior School
Queen Eleanor’s C of E Junior School Bonze Presentation Programme with Heather Fell OLY
“When you work hard and keep trying, even when you are faced with a setback or challenge, you will make progress towards the goal you are aiming for and learn how to be successful!”
Thanks to the support from Prior’s Field School, we were delighted to be back visiting the students at Queen Eleanor’s C of E Junior School as part of an amazing bronze programme with our Ambassador, Heather Fell OLY.
Heather is an Olympic silver medallist in Modern Pentathlon and a current presenter for the Global Triathlon Network, who has experienced success and setbacks not only in the five different disciplines she competed in but also on her journey to winning an Olympic silver medal.
We are so pleased that we could share our morning with the students at Queen Eleanor’s C of E Junior School, after visiting the Prior’s Field sports scholars, so the primary school students could listen to the amazing sporting journey that Heather has been on so far and learn a lot more about what it takes to compete in Modern Pentathlon, a sport that most are not familiar with when taking part in school sport.
Heather told her sporting story from the beginning and explained to the students how easy it is to get involved in sport and physical activity, regardless of your circumstances. Heather never knew where her sporting journey would lead her and this was an important message for the students to hear, as often they are too afraid to try something new.
After explaining all of the individual disciplines involved in Modern Pentathlon and the skills you need to become successful across all of the sports, Heather was able to share with the students some of her greatest achievements, some of which have come after her Olympic silver medal (which the students were delighted to be able to take a quick glimpse at!).
As a presenter of the Global Triathlon Network, Heather is still competing in numerous triathlons and challenges and it was great for the students at Queen Eleanor’s C of E Junior School to see her Olympic silver medal up close. It was amazing for the students to be able to meet Heather during this morning and be inspired to try a new sport, whenever they get the opportunity and to also keep trying when faced with a setback or challenge, as they never know where that might lead them.
Towards the end of each of the presentations, Heather asked the students if they had any questions that she would be able to answer during her time with them. Here are some of the best questions that Heather was asked;
Have you ever been injured?
What is your favourite discipline to compete in?
How many countries have you visited and which one was your favourite?
When did you learn what fencing was?
How did you get into Modern Pentathlon?
How did you win your medal?
If you didn’t compete at Modern Pentathlon, what would you be doing now?
Heather spoke a lot about the journey and her learnings as an athlete along the way with the students but also about the people around her when taking the next steps into elite sport. Heather spoke about why it is so important to seek guidance if you need it and use your support network around you to reach your goals.
We are so glad that the students at Queen Eleanor C of E Junior School could meet Heather during this wonderful morning for Team Mintridge. Thank you to the support from Prior’s Field School, Heather was able to inspire the young minds of the students from Queen Eleanor C of E Junior School and support them on their own individual journeys to success.
We hope to be back with the staff and students very soon!
To see any of the photos from our morning, please contact the staff at Queen Eleanor’s C of E Junior School.
Team Mintridge
If you are interested in a virtual or physical Programme with Heather Fell OLY or any of our other inspirational Ambassadors, then please get in touch via the Mintridge website at www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk or with Katie at katie@mintridge.org.uk.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities, and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as FitSwarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
To find out more about the Mintridge Foundation, please contact Alex Wallace.
