Young Londoners taking part in the Westminster Met-Track project were treated to an extra serving of international coaching at Paddington Recreation Ground this Wednesday (13th July).As if regular coaches, French international Gus Ebhohinhem-Ben and Commonwealth Triple Jump Champion Tosin Oke weren't enough, their latest session attracted Britain's sprints superkid, David Bolarinwa (17).
David, the fastest under-18 in the world last year, has become a role model for coach John Powell's sports project, and was able to talk to the young people at the session about his experiences as a teenager on the international circuit. Then he went on to help with the coaching session, demonstrating the sprint start.
Westminster is one of London's strongest Met-Track squads, and if the special visit wasn't enough, a camera crew shadowed the whole event, gaining footage that will hopefully lead to the BBC making a documentary about David's athletics, his coach, Scheme Director John Powell, and the Met-Track project as a whole.
"Any kind of exposure for the scheme is positive," said John, "but if we have a documentary go out on a BBC channel in Olympic year, that won't do us any harm at all! David is an excellent role model for young Londoners, and I'm really pleased he's willing to visit the project like this. It brings a whole new dimension to sport for the young people taking part - they can talk to someone who started where they are and who has proved just what can be achieved with a little effort and application."
"Met-Track is a great project," said David. "I have been really lucky to progress to international level, but you don't have to be good at something to have fun."
Since David has been associated with the project, Met-Track has set up a school academy at his secondary school, Woolwich Polytechnic, in Greenwich Borough.
