AN OLYMPIC athlete visited a school in Bournemouth to look at their new beach volleyball court.

Serita Shone, the GB heptathlete and bobsleigh star, visited Oakmead College of Technology yesterday to look at their new beach volleyball court and talk to students about sport.

She also took the time to chat to the Year 9 Elite Volleyball Squad and give them some advice on sporting success.

The sporting star is travelling to schools around the country, as part of the Sky Sports Live for Success initiative, which uses sport stars and sport skills to improve the lives of young people in secondary schools.

Serita, who is a recreational volleyball player, says she is ‘gobsmacked’ by the volleyball facility at the school.

She said: “Having the natural sand surface is amazing and you can see straight away the players learning and improving their game.

“I wish something like this had been around when I was at school.

“It’s the standard of a really high quality sports club.”

Serita hit the news last year after an accident on the bobsleigh left her with major injuries to her back.

Luckily, she is now back in training and hopes to compete in the World Junior Bobsleigh Championships in 2013 and aims for the 2014 Winter Olympics selection.

She says that she applied to be an Athlete Mentor for the Sky Sports Live for Success initiative, as she believes that sport is a way to increase self-belief and confidence.

She said: “I want to show young people that even the most serious of setbacks can be overcome.

“In sharing my story, hopefully I can inspire them to never give up on the dreams they have.