Sports stars put schoolchildren through their paces

An Olympic medallist and one of our very own sporting stars inspired youngsters during an energetic visit to the University.

Alison Mowbray and Ricky Stevenson welcomed 120 children, aged 13 to 15, from schools across the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire to an intensive sport and nutrition workshop.

Alison competed with the British Rowing team in two Olympic Games, Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, where she won Silver. She hosted a session on jobs in elite sport, focusing on the vast range of people who all played a vital role in her success - from coaches to sports physiologists and nutritionists.

Ricky, a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise (Applied Sports Science) student, who is supported by the University’s Elite Athlete Bursary Scheme, delivered practical sessions on running mechanics.

The 21-year-old runs with New Marske Harriers. Recent successes include victory at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country and finishing second in the New Balance indoor mile in New York.

The day was supported by our Sport and Well-being department and other activities included a health and nutrition workshop, as well as tours of the University’s physiology laboratories.

The event was part of Teesside’s Meteor programme STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Integrated Education Strategy. This is funded by One North East, aimed at helping promote awareness of science, technology, engineering and maths among young people.

The University’s award-winning Meteor programme, which launched in 1999, aims to inspire primary and secondary school children to think about higher education.

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