A TOP Olympic athlete and Alexandra Hospital doctor took some time out of her busy schedule this week to visit pupils at a Redditch first school.
Sara Treacy, who ran in the finals of the 3,000 metre steeplechase in Rio this summer stopped off at Woodrow First School and Nursery on Wednesday so pupils could quiz her on her Olympic experience, watch her on the school running track and even see her Rio participation medal.
PE co-ordinator Jo Dodds said: “Sara’s visit has made a real difference to these children. They will remember this for the rest of their lives.”
After headteacher Richard Kieran got in touch with Sara via Twitter, they invited her to come to the school to show the children what the life of an elite athlete is like.
“We asked her to come and talk to the children about her experiences, and it has been massively influential for all the students. They need good, strong role models, like Sara and she has been a great inspiration for them,” said Miss Dodds.
“To have the chance to run round the school track with an Olympian is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. We feel very lucky and privileged.”
Sara told how she really only began training as a serious athlete when she was at university in Birmingham, before adding: “I was really pleased to come down to Woodrow and share my Olympic experiences with the children.
“I had a rare bit of spare time and was more than happy to come and run round the school track with the students. They were all very excited and enjoyed getting active in the fresh air.”
Sara, who now works on the Short Stay Unit at the Alex, ran representing her home country, the Republic of Ireland, and was dramatically tripped in her qualifying heat, but was reinstated by Olympic officials to qualify for the final.
Her next challenge is the European Cross Country Championships in December, before aiming to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in London next summer and she has already begun her training.
“I am running about 50 or 60 miles a week at the moment, which I will increase as the competition nears. In between shifts at the Alex, I like training with my local running club and run a lot around Redditch.”
