Olympics legacy set to inspire next generation
Coach from Stratford upon Avon says everyone should give athletics a go
The Paris Olympics may be over but its legacy looks set to last a while yet.
Paul Bearman, a coach from Stratford upon Avon Athletic Club (SUAAC), says big sporting events help inspire their young athletes to try new sports:
"We don't try and pigeonhole the children too early. And that's why it's nice for them to see the different events at the Olympics and say, 'I'll try that event next time round.'"
"In 2022 after the Commonwealth Games, there was a sudden surge of some of our girls wanting to have a go at the hammer, and they tried it and had a go at it in our club championships," he says.
Paul says young athletes at SUAAC also have homegrown talent to be inspired by.
"One of our athletes Andrew Pozzi has been an inspiration for a lot of their young athletes.
"He joined us when he was 10 and I coached him until he was 18.
"At 19 he went to the Olympics. At that point on people could say, 'hey, that's something I can aspire to.'"
And it's not just members of sports clubs who should be inspired by Olympics success. Paul says everyone should give athletics a go:
"It's great for getting fit, it's great for building up social networks, and there's something in it for everybody."
"I would recommend anyone to find their local club, go along, have a go. And just enjoy the pure fun of being involved in athletics," he says.
Paul also says age is no barrier:
"We've got people who are over 80 who are competing for the club in Masters events, and for GB. It's not just for young people, it's for life."