Former Olympian coaches QE athletes - Queen Elizabeth's School

A British 100m finalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics led a sprint workshop with a group of 14 QE athletes of mixed ages.

Jeanette Kwayke’s visit to the School was part of a special initiative aimed at boosting confidence and increasing attainment. She spent the day at QE working with boys ranging from Year 7 to Year 13, including John Otugade, who is hotly tipped as an Olympic prospect himself.

Jeanette, who graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Politics & Economics, was the only European to make the final of the 100m Women’s Sprint in Beijing. She finished in sixth place with a personal best time of 11.14s, having become the first British woman to reach the Olympic sprint final since 1984.

Her finest performances include smashing the British 60m record with a time of 7.08s in the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships. She finished 2008 as number 2 in the world’s women’s rankings. She suffered a career-threatening injury in 2010 and missed out on the opportunity to compete at London 2012.

The visit to QE was part of her role as one of Sky Sports Living for Sport Mentors. It came about following an application from PE teacher James Clarke.

The initiative is designed to motivate and inspire pupils to participate and succeed in their chosen sports. It uses sports stars and sports skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people.

“Sport helps people think, helps people listen, helps people to speak up and helps people work together,” said Darren Campbell, Sky Sports Living for Sport Ambassador. “Different sports inspire different people but one thing is true: there's a sport for everyone and it can change your life."

The boys who took part in the workshop, carrying out drills and training exercises, were: Patrick Owen, Ifeatu Obiora and Isaac Morrison, of Year 7; Liam Hagley, Abbas Adejonwo and Ola Ogunade, of Year 8; Nabil Haque and Nivedth Radhakrishnan, of Year 9; Niruban Rajendram and Eben Karikari Sarpong, of Year 10; Daniel Soyode, Onyekachi Oguike and Yemi Falana, of Year 11 and John Otugade, of Year 13.

As part of Living for Sport, Jeanette is due to return to the School in 2013, to work with the sprinters once more, as well as with the Fit Club boys. She will also lead an assembly.