Children jump to support GB athletes (From Streatham Guardian)

Streatham schoolchildren jump to support GB athletes

5:00am Friday 5th October 2012 in News By Alice Foster, Reporter

Hundreds of schoolchildren did star jumps and press ups to help raise money to support GB athletes in Streatham.

Olympic hopeful for 2016 Nicole Hibbert, led about 450 children in sponsored exercises at Sunnyhill Primary School.

The 17-year-old, who hopes to make the gymnastics squad to Rio de Janeiro, said: "I go to a lot of schools and do this to inspire children and motivate them to do sport."

Taking up the sport aged just four, Nicole's hopes of competing in the London Olympics were dashed by a knee injury last year, but she remains positive.

She said: "When I had the injury I thought ‘I’m not going to make the Olympics’. But now I’m trying for 2016.

"To even make the GB team is amazing. I have been training with the big stars."

Money raised by the activities will boost the school’s PE budget and support aspiring GB athletes through organisation Sports 4 All UK.

Headteacher John Parr said the event helped to keep the enthusiasm generated by the Olympics going among the students.

He said: "We captured that and we can’t let it go. We are really committed to sport.

"There is the whole educational aspect of getting children to know learning is not just what happens inside the classroom."

Student Lipy Hoque, 10, said: "I think it was really tiring. I like gymnastics because it’s fun."