Bronze Presentation Programme with Lizzie Simmonds OLY and the students from Howell’s School and the GDST - October 2021

“Sometimes you have to make difficult choices, change your schedule or find a time to focus on what you want to achieve because, without that focus and unwavering commitment, it can be difficult to really know your full potential in any field you work in.”

Our Ambassador, Olympic swimmer, Lizzie Simmonds OLY, spent the evening inspiring the students at Howell’s School and the GDST network, as part of an amazing Bronze Programme designed to support the sports scholars and talented athletes in their own journeys to success.

Throughout the evening, Lizzie shared the valuable lessons she has learnt during her time as an elite athlete and Olympian, especially when competing at the London and Beijing Olympic Games.

It was an incredibly insightful and inspiring evening for the students who had tuned in to the presentation, as they gained some essential top tips, words of advice and useful tools from Lizzie through her presentation and Q&A; about managing work, life and sport all at the same time, especially if you are trying to compete at the highest level.

The sports scholars at Howell’s School and within the GDST used this opportunity with Lizzie to learn more about how she managed her daily and weekly schedules, in and out of the pool, alongside managing her academic studies at the same time. Lizzie spoke to the students about the importance of setting your goals early and committing to them so that your motivation is always working towards what you want to achieve.

Lizzie shared with the students during the evening, the benefits of finding out who you are outside of your sporting identity so that you can prepare for all eventualities and know what your values are, as they will ultimately shape the way you act and what you aim for in the future.

Here are some of the questions that the students asked during the evening, that helped the students gain a deeper understanding of what it is like to perform at the elite level.

What are the simple things that we can be doing as athletes, day to day, to help us be the best we can be?

What do you do now and what would you like to do in the future?

How have you learnt to be this confident?

How do you deal with anxiety and nerves?

Did you ever feel like giving up and how did you move past that?

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be?

Did you choose backstroke?

What are the best things about competing?

The students involved in the presentation engaged so well with Lizzie, who quizzed them on a couple of occasions about their own goal setting, things that help them to feel more confident and what high performers having in common.

It was a wonderful evening for Team Mintridge, Lizzie and the staff and students at Howell’s School. The sports scholars from Howell’s School and the GDST took a lot from their time with Lizzie and we wish them all the best of luck in everything they go on to do in the future.

We look forward to being back with the sports scholars at Howell’s School very soon for more inspirational presentations from our Mintridge Ambassadors.

Team Mintridge

If you are interested in a virtual or physical Programme with Lizzie Simmonds or any of our other inspirational Ambassadors, then please get in touch via the Mintridge website at www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk or with Katie at katie@mintridge.org.uk.

The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities, and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.

Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as FitSwarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.

The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.

To find out more about the Mintridge Foundation, please contact Alex Wallace.

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