UP AND coming young athletes from across the borough met Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes for some expert sporting advice. Students from several of our secondary schools went along to learn from running legend Kelly last week and improve their ow

UP AND coming young athletes from across the borough met Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes for some expert sporting advice.

Students from several of our secondary schools went along to learn from running legend Kelly last week and improve their own skills.

It was all part of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust which was founded in July 2008 and helps young athletes unlock their true potential and reach for their goals.

Teaching young sportsmen and women about nutrition, motivation, how to avoid injury and how to handle the media are just some of the aspects covered.

Dame Kelly said: "The trust is something I have thought about for a long time.

"But it is not just about me, it involves lots of other athletes who do an incredible job.

"I want to pass some of my experience on to the next generation - all the highs and lows of professional athletics."

The two-day event was held at Cumberland School in Oban Road, Newham on Tuesday and Wednesday February 17 and 18.

Joseph Ramie, 18, from Dagenham, is a Robert Clack student who has achieved national levels in the Long and Triple Jump.

He attended the course last week and said that it has helped tremendously with his motivation to train ahead of the Olympic Games in 2012.

Kirsty Night, 15, from Dagenham, plays netball and says she jumped at the chance to work with Dame Kelly.

And shot putter Stephanie Okaye, 14, from Barking, said she had come to learn the important role nutrition plays in sport - what she should and should not eat to prepare herself for competitions.

The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust also invited parents to come along so they could find out more about how to support their child in sporting endeavours.