Paralympian Claire inspires pupils

Ben Loftus gets a closer look at Claire Cashmore’s silver medal with his classmates looking on

SWIMMER Claire Cashmore showed off her silver parlaympic medal to pupils at North Chadderton School.

She gave a motivational assembly and worked with 20 students organising a sports event for local primary schools.

The visit was part of the Sky Sports Living for Sport programme which uses sport to boost pupils’ confidence and inspire them to be the best they can in all areas of their lives.

Claire, from Redditch, was born without a left forearm and told pupils she was determined to do well in the pool after a girl told her she wouldn’t be able to swim.

She proved her wrong by eventually winning a silver and bronze at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens aged 16, as well as world and European titles.

PE teacher Jayne Foden said: “The pupils really enjoyed the visit. They thought Claire was fantastic.”