Paralympic silver medalist inspires Dagenham pupils
A Paralympic swimmer amputated at the knee inspired pupils after telling them how she overcame her disability to win silver at the London Games.
Charlotte Henshaw, 25, was born with bilateral tibial hypoplasia, meaning her legs were under-developed and had to be operated on when she was 18 months.
She won silver in the 100m breaststroke in London last month and another silver at the World Championships last year in the same event with a time of 1 minute 39 seconds on each occasion.
Charlotte, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, met pupils at the library of All Saints secondary in Terling Road, Dagenham, on Wednesday.
Librarian Tracy Roome, 45, said: “She told the children not to get anything let them down and find a way round things.
You may also want to watch:
“They were totally inspired by her. It was a real privilege to have her.
“Being an Olympic year, she lifted the whole school. It was a fantastic experience for everyone.”
Most Read
- 1 Marvel movie blockbuster Black Widow filmed in Dagenham
- 2 Man in hospital after being found with facial injuries in Dagenham
- 3 Storage building next to disused Dagenham pub destroyed by fire
- 4 Dagenham man sentenced after flying kick at cop during Black Lives Matter demo
- 5 Guilty: Who was jailed across east London in July?
- 6 Tube strike suspended to allow for further talks
- 7 Teenage pedestrian in hospital after Dagenham crash
- 8 Man, 19, stabbed in thigh in Dagenham
- 9 Dagenham author pens novel to mark centenary of Becontree Estate
- 10 Man charged with murder after fatal Dagenham assault
All Saints history teacher Kelly Mordue, who is a close friend of Charlotte’s, organised the visit.
