Golden girl Ellie Simmonds a hit at Oswestry School pool opening
Paralympic double gold medallist Ellie Simmonds has officially opened a refurbished swimming pool at a school in Shropshire.
Miss Simmonds visited Oswestry School for the unveiling ceremony and didn't stop smiling as she had her photograph taken with pupils and signed autographs.
And she told the 300 pupils at the school of the importance of learning to swim – regardless of whether or not they intend to do so competitively.
The 18-year-old, who celebrated her landmark birthday over the weekend with a surprise party in the West Midlands, spent yesterday morning at the school, where her 16-year-old cousin Zain Rajput is a pupil.
She also took part in a question and answer session with the whole school – and gave teachers a mini-headache when she offered to let the 300-plus pupils touch her two gold medals and the Paralympic torch that she was given after extinguishing the flame at the end of the London 2012 Games.
Miss Simmonds set two world records and won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze during a hugely successful London 2012 Paralympics.
She said: "The legacy that the Olympics and Paralympics has given to this country is so important. We must grasp the chance to encourage people to take part in sport."
And she revealed that she was loving the experiences that being a gold medallist was giving her. "It's been great," she said. "I went to the James Bond premiere, took part in A Question of Sport and have done so many other things.
"Going to the Great North Run was a brilliant day and I am also really enjoying visiting schools and talking the pupils. Training will start again after Christmas, for the world championships in Canada next year.
"I hope I can keep swimming for at least two more Paralympics and I am looking forward to Rio – I think it will be one big party."
She told the school that despite her success in the swimming pool she was still carrying on her education.
Pupils from surrounding primary schools were invited to the pool opening.
Matthew Collins, 10, from Whittington and a member of Oswestry Olympics junior triathlon team, said: "The improvements are great."
