AN OLYMPIC athlete headed to a Southbourne school to pass on some top tips for becoming a gold medallist.

Jason Gardener MBE, who was part of the Team GB relay team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, spoke to children at St Katharine's C of E Primary School as part of the Youth Sport Trust's National School Sport Week campaign.

The sprint sports star also joined Year 5 to participate in a host of different games on the golden sands of Southbourne Beach, including Catch the Flag, football and cricket.

He said: "It's been fantastic to be with the children from St Katharine's School playing Catch the Flag, which is a totally new game to me. It's been good fun.

"That's what sport is supposed to be about: Having fun and doing your best."

Later in the day, the children listened to Jason sharing some of his memories of school sports days and his own Olympic experiences.

Nikki St John, headteacher of St Katharine's School, said: "As a school, we take part in lots of school sport and competitions. We equally promote the power of PE and inclusive PE.

"Jason has been great. He got involved in playing tennis with the children and we showed them his 100m sprint in the Olympics, which I think has inspired them."

She added that the children are wearing their sports kit all week instead of school uniform and get to try a host of sports including water play, mother and daughter tennis coaching and table cricket.

Ali Oliver, chief executive of Youth Sport Trust, said: "At the Youth Sport Trust we believe in building a brighter future for young people though PE and school sport and National School Sport Week helps us do that.

"It also promotes the fact that PE, school sport and physical activity are proven to enhance physical health, boost mental wellbeing, build resilience, lift academic achievement and create active habits for life."