STUDENTS at Malmesbury School received an uplifting visit from Paralympian, Dave Hill who spent the day at the school working with different year groups.

Champion swimmer and triathlete Dave had a lot of expertise to pass on, as at just 15 he was GB’s youngest athlete at the Athens Games in 2004 making the final of the 100m backstroke.

As well as addressing Year 7 students in assembly with a motivational talk, Dave spent time with Year 12 AS PE and Year 11 Btec pupils looking at what it takes to be an elite athlete, with a focus on fitness.

He also led a Year 7 group confidence building session in the pool using his expertise as an elite swimmer and ended the day with a practical session for the students who are committed to the school’s triathlon club with advice on how to train between the end of the current triathlon course and the next one in March.

Malmesbury headteacher Tim Gilson said: “We were delighted to welcome Dave Hill into school last week, it is really important for our students to have a chance to learn from world class athletes. Dave was very generous with his time and as well as doing some very specific coaching with a group of our triathletes and swimmers he answered all the questions that the students threw at him throughout the day. All the students that I spoke to afterwards had really enjoyed working with Dave and were genuinely inspired by what he has achieved.”

Year 7 pupil Tom Poole-Wigley said: “It was really fun to see him and I learnt that even if you have a disability, you still have no disadvantages. I am going to start swimming again after hearing about him taking up triathlon.”

And Year 12 student Lizzie Raynor said: “He was a genuinely inspirational person and I am fascinated by what he does. I am a triathlete myself and it is something I would like to do more of at a competitive level so it was great to hear how he trains and what his diet is.”

Head of PE at the school, Ann Napper, said: “We had a great day with David who was brilliant with every group as his quiet humility and emphasis on just being an ordinary person who has achieved the extraordinary was an inspiration to everyone.”