Campbell, the former European and Olympic sprint relay champion, will be accompanied by elite competitors including British women's hockey player Alex Danson, double Commonwealth champion and world medallist swimmer Chris Cook, former world indoor 60-metre silver medallist Jeanette Kwakye and former world bobsleigh champion Nicola Minichiello.

Now in its ninth year, Sky Sports Living for Sport is a free initiative, delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, that uses sports stars and sports skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people in secondary schools across the UK.

During the visits - for which participating schools can register here - the athlete mentors share their stories with the young people, talking not only about their sporting careers, but also more personally about the challenges they have faced in their own lives.

The visits help pupils understand how sport has enabled the athlete mentor to overcome the issues and barriers in his or her life, providing tangible proof that lessons learned through sport, such as determination, respect and confidence can be applied to all areas of their daily lives to help them achieve their goals.


Minichiello (pictured) said: "Sport is such a powerful tool to use for improving life skills.

"From my own personal experiences I know exactly how sport can truly help a person strive to get the best out of life.

"Each sporting activity I go through with the young people has additional benefits and skills attached to it that can be applied into everyday life, whether it be learning how to work as a team or developing skills for social interaction.

"To have the opportunity to share my own story with young people is a real privilege; I'm very excited about the year ahead and meeting more inspirational students across the East Midlands.

"Sky Sports Living for Sport is such a fantastic initiative that really makes a big difference to the lives of thousands of young people."

The athletes will parallel the British Athletes Commission's "Six Keys to Success" by instilling in pupils values such as belief, determination, people skills and time management.

Campbell, ambassador of Sky Sport Living for Sport, comments: "Sky Sports Living for Sport is now into its ninth year and once again we have an incredible line up of motivating and inspiring Athlete Mentors.

"They will be visiting hundreds of schools across the UK sharing their personal stories and playing a big role in supporting the work of the teachers to encourage pupils to embark on their own journeys of development."

The athlete mentors, who have been specially selected by the Youth Sport Trust because of their own inspiring journeys to overcome issues and achieve success, will be visiting secondary schools to inspire and motivate pupils to apply the life lessons learned through sport to all aspects of their lives.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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