Express & Star

Olympic gold medal-winning canoeist Joe Clarke paddles into Staffordshire classroom

Gold medallist Joe Clarke inspired children with stories of his success and obstacles he has faced.

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Gold medal winner – Joe Clarke with Imogen Briers, Cory Griffiths and PE teacher Peter Willett at Hednesford Valley High School

The slalom canoeist who won a gold medal in Rio last year told pupils at Hednesford Valley High School about how he first got into the sport, his past success and how it is not as easy as it seems.

He spoke about the setbacks he has had in life including when he had an abscess behind one eye that could have made him blind and how he overcame such challenges and kept persevering.

The 24-year-old said: “It is very important for children to do something they believe in and the only way to achieve want they want will be by working towards it and having some inspiration.

“It is not always straight forward but there is no reason why you can’t do anything you want, no matter the obstacles.

“It is important to have aspirations and sometimes you need to evaluate things and something on the road is a set back you just have to remind yourself to get back up, be committed and also stay focused.”

Yesterday’s visit was part of the school’s be the best you can be programme which is run by their PE teacher Peter Willetts.

Mr Willetts is one of the people who who helped to get Joe Clarke involved in the canoeing and even went to Rio to watch him win gold. The Olympian went to Walton Priory Middle School and is from Stoke-on-Trent and managed to get into part of the Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, which he

He said: “He took me under his wing really. He was always better than me at canoeing and I kept pushing to be faster and then he has always been there to support me since.

“My medal is not just mine, it is my parents and everyone along the way who has supported me including Mr Willetts.”

To launch the programme to inspire the children, 400m runner Daniel Caines who won a gold medal in the European Championships in 2002, gave a talk at the school back in October.