Olympic rowers are a shining example (From The Oxford Times)
When It Happens Panel Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
Olympic rowers are a shining example
1:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News
Buy this photo »
Zac Purchase shows his Olympic gold and silver medals to Elliot, five, and Bethany Price, 10. Picture: OX55253 Steve Wheeler
OLYMPIC rowers Zac Purchase, Katie Greves and Natasha Page gave a talk to schoolchildren in Wallingford to inspire them to take up sport.
Mr Purchase, 26, from Wallingford, won a silver medal at the London Olympics alongside Leander Club member Mark Hunter in the men’s lightweight double sculls final at Eton Dorney.
The duo tried to retain their Olympic title in front of a home crowd, but lost to Denmark.
Ms Greves, also from Wallingford, and Natasha Page, from Reading, were in the women’s eight team team that finished fifth at London 2012.
The rowers joined gamesmakers at the talk on Tuesday, which was attended by families enjoying the half-term school holiday.
About 50 people turned up for the session, which was hosted by Wallingford mayor Ros Lester, whose husband Ken Lester is the youngest ever British male Olympian.
Mr Purchase said: “It’s been great meeting all the schoolchildren and chatting to them in small groups about my experience at the Olympics and I hope I have inspired them to take up sport.”