Duchess of Cambridge meets future fencing stars at the Copper Box

On Friday 18^th October 2013, SportsAid hosted their athlete workshop at the Copper Box in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford.  Taster sessions in six sports including fencing were offered to some of SportsAid’s grant receipients.

HRH the Duchess of Cambridge, SportsAid’s patron, visited the event and was welcomed to the fencing activity by Neil Brown (British Fencing’s Projects Officer) and sabre fencer, Ruben Amsalem.

Speaking at the event, Neil Brown said; “It was a great honour to meet the Duchess and to give her a small insight into our sport.  SportsAid have provided financial support to our young athletes for a number of years so it is a pleasure to support their events.”

Former British international, Claire Bennett, delivered the taster sessions whilst Georgina Summers and Harry Peck provided displays throughout the day. 

After this the athlete delegates learnt about social media and media interview techniques from Fiona Cotterill and James Pearce with swimmer Karen Pickering and wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan, got top nutrition tips from Jenny Tschiesche with rower Steve Williams, and later enjoyed the rare chance to ask diver Leon Taylor, rower Katherine Grainger, swimmer Steve Parry and middle-distance runner Danny Crates what it takes to compete at the top of your sport.