Olympic fever sweeps through Highgate and Hampstead schools
Olympics fever is sweeping schools from Highgate to Camden Town as pupils achieve sporting success and forge links with top athletes.
One 10-year-old Highgate Primary School pupil recently told her classmates how it felt to win five medals in an international gymnastic competition in America.
Amaranta Chavez, in her last year at the primary in Storey Road, picked up one gold, three silvers and silver overall at the Gold Coast International Cup 2012 rhythmic gymnastics competition in Miami on January 15.
On February 2 she showed off her moves, including a Michael Jackson routine, to fellow pupils in an assembly.
“The children were quite shocked,” said her mother, Therese. “They know her as little quiet Amaranta so they saw a different side of her for once when she showed off her amazing skills.’’
Amaranta’s next goal is the British Championships in June which could be her route to representing Great Britain in the future.
She trains nine hours a week, and six hours a day before a competition, with her coach, Khulan Batbaya.
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She is seeking a sponsor to help her reach the next level.
Amaranta’s demonstration was part of a wider programme of teaching Olympic values at the Highgate primary while schools across Camden have embraced the Olympic spirit in other ways.
Christ Church School in Christ Church Hill, Hampstead, held a sponsored fitness challenge with 19-year-old Olympic judo hopeful David Logan on February 7.
The three-time England champion revealed his fitness routine and career aspirations and invited children to join in with a fitness circuit which raised money for the Sport Relief charity and the school’s PE department.
Christ Church and Highgate Primary belong to the official Get Set! scheme to “earn” tickets to the Olympics and Paralympics this summer by involving children in sporting and educational activities.
If you would like to sponsor Amaranta, email her mother at theresechavez@live.co.uk
