November 11 - Denise Lewis (pictured), the 2000 Sydney Olympic heptathlon champion, has backed Sport England's injection of £10 million aimed at encouraging women caring for children or those from deprived communities.


 

The money, from National Lottery funding, will be given to sports that will help drive an "Active Women" campaign at grassroots level, with the possibility of also unearthing new talent to become elite athletes.
 

Lewis said: "People don't realise the talent pool in these deprived areas - it's quite phenomenal.

 

"But they don't have people telling them they are really good.

 

"They might not have somebody to provide the transport to get to and from venues.

 

"When someone tells you that you are good enough, it increases ambition.

 

"They might not believe it until someone tells them."
 

Lewis, 37, has three children and knows the benefits of participating in sport as a mother.
 

She said: "For many mothers it is a case of fighting the guilt of any time you are not thinking about the family.

 

"With everything that you do with the children, you become the most insignificant thing in the house - and there is a point where you have to redress the balance because it is not good mentally."