Young sports leaders, at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, were privileged to line out with four-times Six Nations winner and World Cup Silver Medallist, Katy Storie. Katy worked with a group of 52 Year 9 Level 2 Cambridge National Certificate in Sports Science students, who have just started the brand new course this year. Throughout Year 9, students will develop their leadership, coaching and officiating skills to gain leadership qualifications in rugby and Quicksticks hockey. The visit was part of the ‘Activity for All’ National Lottery Community Fund bid secured by Yes@RichmondSchool. Katy is a Youth Sport Trust athlete mentor who encourages the engagement of students in sport.
The aim of Katy’s visit was for her to share her experiences and motivate the students to think about the direction of their future lives, many of which involve aspirations to be professional elite athletes, coaches and fitness instructors in a wide range of sports and physical activities. Katy engaged the students with her life story, from early childhood and struggles with self-esteem and fitting in as a young person, before her introduction to weightlifting for Great Britain and her subsequent and very successful transition to university rugby and then the England team.
Students were eager to learn about the achievements she was most proud of, as well as her most-gruesome injury!
Katy commented: “It is always a pleasure to spend time with students who really appreciate the benefits of sport, not just the physical and health advantages but the importance of teamwork, coaching and pushing yourself to be the best you can be. The students were engaged with the messages I shared from my own sporting and leadership experiences and I hope will use these in their own pathways.”
On 23rd October, Katy will be making an eagerly-awaited return as a keynote speaker at a presentation evening, hosted at the Georgian Theatre, when students who have taken part in the Activity For All programme will be rewarded.
Lesley Abbey, Lead PE teacher, concluded: “Katy inspired the students and in doing so motivated them to make the most of the fantastic opportunities they can be involved in at Richmond School and in the local community and understand what a difference they could make to another young person’s life. During the year, students will coach, officiate and organise primary school multi-skills, Quicksticks hockey and rugby with our feeder primary schools. Katy’s advice had a very positive impact on the students and was a rewarding experience for them.”