Success story: Adam Gemili burst onto the Olympic scene in Stratford this summer

Barking and Dagenham athletes are to take part in an Olympic legacy sports challenge pitting the talents of students across the capital.

The EDF Energy Athletics Challenge will enable the students to improve their athletics performance with top coaches as well as develop their careers through expert job workshops.

Six colleges and schools, including Barking and Dagenham College, will participate in the challenge next March.

The Dagenham Road college has trained running sensation Adam Gemili, who burst onto the Olympic scene in Stratford this summer.

London 2012 100m Paralympic bronze medallist, Ola Abidogun, officially launched the challenge in central London on November 29.

He said: “London 2012 took athletics in this country to a new level and initiatives like this are just what we need if we are going to turn the incredible enthusiasm displayed in the summer into opportunities for young people.”