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Easton College students urged to go for gold

The gold medals of British olympian David Hemery and paralympian Danny Crates helped inspire hundreds of students at Easton College, Norwich, towards achieving their goals in life.

The two former athletes are part of a national initiative using the London Olympics in 2012 to motivate a whole generation of young people to do the best they can in life.

Easton, a TMS client, is the first college in the UK to take part and the visit will be followed by a sustained college programme giving all students time and special tutoring each week towards achieving their ambitions.

Hemery said afterwards that the aim was to provide an educational and motivational legacy from the London Olympics which would last young people a lifetime. The response and enthusiasm of the 16-18 year olds he met at Easton was inspiring in itself.

His track career peaked with a gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Students also heard former rugby player Danny Crates’ own inspirational story from the moment he lost an arm in a horrific accident in Australia in 1964.

He went on to become the only known arm amputee playing club rugby in the country and, turning his attention to athletics, he used his speed in the T46 400m arm amputee class to become a 2004 Paralympics Champion, European Champion, Paralympics World Cup winner and world record holder.

All 60 students were then suspended in silence by Tim Newenham - former international athlete, now coach and Olympic Legacy Venues Project Manager - who demonstrated athletes’ relaxation and visioning techniques with a view to the learners applying this to their own personal journeys.

David Lawrence, Easton College Principal, said: “I was determined that our college would be among the first in line as the ‘Be The Best You Can Be’ initiative begins to roll out. The inspiration offered by our olympians and paralympians who strive to achieve their goal is incredibly powerful and can really reach out and touch young people today.”

More information from George Caplan, Easton College Head of Faculty, on 01603 731275.