Paris 2024: Who are the teachers that supported our sports stars?
It's been an incredibly successful year at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with the ParalympicsGB team returning home 2nd in the medal table with 124 medals.
While each elite athlete has earned their individual success through hard work and determination, it's also thanks to the support of those around them who've helped our stars get to where they are today.
As the ParalympicsGB athletes arrived home Super Movers for Every Body asked about the teachers who've made an impact on their sporting journeys.
"Teachers are the people that shape your early life and I was incredibly lucky to have one that ultimately made me who I am today." said nine-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft.
Watch the film to hear Paralympians give thanks to the schools and staff that supported them.
Matt Bush: Yeah, so my primary school headmaster was very keen on sport, Shane Buckley, shout out. And he was really encouraging and like, just so supportive and just got me involved in all sport and I was like, super keen, had loads of energy. Then I also had a teacher in year five, Lynn Hart, she would let us do sport every single day and it would like, improve my performance in class because I would get the energy out outside.
Claire Cashmore: I felt like I had an incredibly supportive network within P.E. Yes, there is things that I couldn't do, but we are the best innovators, we find ways around things. You know, we're constantly adapting and I think that's the thing, just give them the tools, help them out, and allow them to be involved so they can adapt and enjoy it in the same way that everybody else does.
Amy Truesdale: My teachers were really supportive when I started Taekwondo, because I started it at a very young age. The instructor just made it adaptable so that I could get involved. So, yeah, I think having mentors that are supportive, that was really valuable when I was younger.
Bly Twomey: Miss Tate has been supporting me so much and she's just been, just an incredible person to have around.
Alfie Hewett: Yeah, I had a good P.E teacher, Mr. Morgan, he was always very supportive of my tennis. He actually allowed me to play tennis within P.E lessons in school. So, basically I was training during P.E, which was kind of… kind of cool.
Gordon Reid: I mean, I was really lucky, I went to Hermitage Academy Secondary School and they were brilliant with me, with the tennis. They, you know, they allowed me to take time off to go to tournaments and… yeah, have a little bit of a different schedule with classes for training as well, so, just all the… all the teachers there.
Hannah Cockroft: I think teachers are the people that shape your early life and I was incredibly lucky to have some amazing teachers, but one that really, really stood out and ultimately made me who I am today.
