5th January 2009

Scholl Marks Success In Beijing

 

 

 

05 January 2009

 

 

 

Scholl, Official Footcare sponsor of UK Athletics marked the success of Britain’s athletes in 2008 by commissioning some special foot casts through the Set in Stone programme.

 

Christian Malcolm, 200m finalist in Beijing was chosen by Scholl along with 100m finalist Jeanette Kwakye and Ben Rushgrove, Paralympic 100m Silver medallist.

 

Each athlete chose to go back to their old school as the place that had the biggest influence on their careers to date, to present the foot cast trophy.

 

Ben Rushgrove, who is based in Bath had a huge reception when he returned to Treloar School in Alton, Hampshire and met up with his old PE teacher Sandra King who introduced him to athletics. Ben’s foot cast was especially unique as it was the right foot he broke before leaving for Beijing and still managed to medal at his first Paralympic Games.

 

Ben said: "When I first went to Treloar School I was no good at sport!  However, I was introduced to some remarkable individuals who assisted me in realising I had found something I could work for.  I owe a lot of my confidence and success to Treloar’s."

 

Christian Malcolm presented his special foot cast to Hartridge High School in his hometown of Newport. He was particularly inspired by his art teacher given that her husband was 1964 Olympic long jump gold medallist Lynn Davies.

 

Christian said: “Hartridge High is where things really started for me so I think it’s always important to go back, not only through appreciation of what I took from my experience at the school but also as its important for the kids there to see that I was just like them and have come through and achieved, meaning there’s nothing to stop them from striving for that too.”

 

Jeanette Kwakye will be presenting her foot cast in the New Year.

 

Heather Wallis, Brand Team Leader for Scholl, commented: “As the official footcare sponsor of UK Athletics we understand that athletes’ feet are their most valuable asset. We wanted to recognise this through making the cast and hopefully it can inspire plenty of youngsters to put their best foot forward on the road to becoming the track and field stars of tomorrow.”