Jonathan Edwards Launches The 2011 Local Heroes Programme

Olympians Jonathan Edwards and Leon Taylor joined over 100 Team GB and ParalympicsGB hopefuls at Loughborough University last week, at the launch of the 2011 Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme.

Now in its fourth year of its partnership with the charity SportsAid, the programme provides financial and practical support to aspiring athletes and their families.

The workshop held at Loughborough over the last week was designed to prepare the future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB for life as an elite athlete.

Over 100 athletes from across Britain participated in activities such as motivational sessions led by sports psychology experts; an ‘Olympic and Paralympic Games experience’ session led by the British Olympic Association; and sessions with SportsAid award recipients and Team GB Olympians, Jonathan Edwards and Leon Taylor, who were on hand to share their own Games experiences and provide hints and tips on how to develop their careers.

Athletes that attended the workshop included; Twinelle Hopeson, a young sprinter from Croydon, Samantha Wilson, a Synchronised Swimmer from Tewkesbury, Josceline Beaumont, a shooter from Abertillery and Matthew Grieve an up and coming Water Polo player from Carlisle.