PARALYMPIC gold medalist Danny Crates urged south Essex school teachers to inspire pupils to aim towards being Olympians for London's 2012 games.
Speaking at the fourth Essex County Council Physical Education and Sports Development Con-ference in the Towngate Theatre, Basildon, Danny told how winning gold in the 800m track event at the 2004 Athens Paralympics was a "dream come true".
Danny, from Corring-ham, said: "I've asked several champions where they got their passion for sport and desire to win from and they all say school.
"It was my PE teacher who pushed me and inspired me to get into rugby. My next aim is to be picked for the team for the 2008 Games in Beijing, but my dream is to run in London in 2012.
"The real hopefuls for those Games will still be at school though, and as teachers you have the chance to inspire the champions of the future."
Published Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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