Inspirational Steve Cram visits Coventry school

10th July 2012

Great British athletics legend Steve Cram gave a talk to inspire students in sport and their exams at a Coventry school.

As part of its partnership with Business in the Community’s Business Class programme, Yorkshire Bank’s Coventry Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) organised the visit to Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and Language College in Potters Green Road.

Steve is regarded as one of the finest middle distance runners of all time, setting world records throughout the 1980s and winning silver over 1,500m at the 1984 Olympics.

The former World, European and Commonwealth gold medallist, who is an ambassador for Yorkshire Bank, took part in a Question and Answer session with students from the school’s gifted and talented sports scheme, before putting them through a series of drills and sprinting, relays and endurance techniques in the gym.

Some of the school’s English and media students took photographs and wrote a report of Steve’s visit for the school’s newsletter and website.

Jenni Delaney, head of business and enterprise at Cardinal Wiseman School, said the students had gained a great deal from Steve’s visit.

“Steve’s talk had a positive impression on the students which I’m sure they will take into their studies as well as their chosen sports in which they excel,” she said.

“He emphasised that their future is very much in their own hands and that by working hard every day, they can achieve their goals whether that is on the athletics track or when revising for their GCSEs.

“Steve also brought along the Olympic Torch which he carried in his hometown of Sunderland to pass around the students, which was an added bonus to his visit.”

Mark Sykes, business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Coventry FSC at the Ricoh Arena, said Steve was an inspirational ambassador for Yorkshire Bank and the feedback from the school following his visit had been extremely positive.

“Steve has proven that by going the extra mile you can achieve your dreams, and I hope his words stay with the students so that they build a successful career in their chosen field,” he said.

“It was fantastic to see Steve pass on his experience to the students and I’m sure everyone took away the importance of having a positive mindset.”