The Charter School

 

 

Archie Mitchell one of our Year 11 students won a gold medal in 1500 metres freestyle at the UK School Games yesterday in a thrilling and closely fought race.  He battled it out in the Olympic pool in front of a crowd of 10,000 cheering spectators and did his best ever time, 16.17.93, to win by just under a second - with the swimmer from Ireland (Morgan Berryman) taking silver and the one from Central England (Benjamin Goodall) getting the bronze.

 

This win ranks Archie top in the country for his event and also places him in a great position as he prepares to go to Israel this weekend to represent Great Britain in the European Open Water Championships.  He received his kit on Thursday and will be taking part in the 10 km race alongside Britain’s Olympic medal hopefuls, Keri-Anne Payne and David Davies. The team will be preparing during for the Red Sea swim during the week and the event is held on Friday 18^th May.   

 

For the UK School Games he was selected to represent the South of England and competed against swimmers from the North, East and Central England, East and West Scotland, Ireland and Wales. There was also a Brazilian team invited because they’re hosting the 2016 Olympics. The Games ran over four days and Archie was at the Stratford Olympic site throughout, receiving mentoring from a Commonwealth Gold medallist and attending presentations in the Edexcel Centre. A total of 1,600 athletes from across the UK were selected to attend in events at the Olympic park, with tickets for Athletics, Cycling and Swimming selling out within a few hours of being released.

 

The event acted as a trial for the Olympic Games, with facilities open to the athletes and a host of celebrities in attendance. Archie enjoyed meeting Geri Halliwell, who presented medals during the swimming, alongside former sports minister Richard Caborn. Prime Minister, David Cameron, commended all of those participating:  "Perhaps we have seen some of the great sports heroes of the future compete this week, but more importantly, I hope they will inspire many more young people to get involved in sport. It's a great way to mark the lead-up to the 2012 Games."

 

Archie particularly enjoyed the closing ceremony at the Basketball arena, with performances from the Cover Drive and gymnastic troupe Spellbound. Backed by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust the athletes the event aimed at giving Olympic stars of the future the chance to taste what life is like living on the Olympic site. And this was literally a thrilling experience as they ate the same kind of meals that will be served to athletes this summer – a real hit with Archie, who rated the desserts highly!

 

As he prepares to go to Israel he said the UK School Games had undoubtedly improved his motivation and confidence: “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done – we were living life at the Olympic site exactly as it will be when the Games opens and it was so amazing to be with the best swimmers in my age group  from across Britain. We all learned so much and made friends as well. I was very pleased with my swim and now I’m excited to be going to Israel with my swimming hero, David Davies.”