Littlehampton sport student set for exhausting challenge

That’s the charity challenge sporty students from the Littlehampton Academy have set themselves, as part of the school’s Olympic celebrations, next month.

A team of 20 youngsters from Years-nine and 10 will be taking part in the school’s first, “Olympathon” beginning on Friday, July 6, and ending the following day.

The teens will tackle a diverse range of activities – which will all feature in this summer’s Olympic of Paralympic Games – from boxing, gymnastics and tennis, to judo, wrestling and even synchronised swimming.

The school’s new head boy, Paddy Chapman, 15, is one of those taking part in the event, which will help support three charities in the Littlehampton area.

He said: “It’s going to be a pretty tough and demanding event but I know it’s going to be something that will be great for both the school and the town.

“It’s certainly helping to bring out the Olympic spirit, which I think is fantastic.”

Paddy added: “I’m not going to lie, I’m not looking forward to doing some of the events at 3am. It’s going to be exhausting!”

Richard Hanks, PE teacher at the school, is helping to organise the sporting spectacle.

He said that the event would be both a physical challenge, as well as a mental one and that it would push many of the school’s top athletes to their breaking point.

Mr Hanks said: “We decided to challenge our most talented and committed sports stars.

“There are no scheduled stops for lunch or dinner and it will be extremely tiring as the majority of the activities are very physical.”

He added: “The idea just came about really – we wanted something that had never been done before and one that the students and staff would remember.”

The teens are still looking for more sponsorship, in the run-up to next week’s event, which will be supporting HOMElink, the Southern Area Disability Partnership and Enable Me.

Anyone wishing to support them, can donate cash into the school’s office, in Hill Road.