This Monday, we were delighted to welcome back Old Peterite and British Triathlete Sam Dickinson (Manor, 2015) to talk to pupils of various ages.
The bronze-medal winning Olympian started the day with a lecture to the Sixth Form as part of the ‘St Peter’s and Beyond’ lecture series, aimed at inspiring pupils to think about their lives after school. The lecture, for which Sam was joined on stage by his old Manor Houseparent Mr Gwilliam, contained numerous useful messages, such as the importance of self-belief when faced by external pressures and negativity, and of resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. Sam’s journey from running the Beverley 10k at school, to attending Tokyo as a reserve triathlete, to finally winning an Olympic medal served as an inspiration to all pupils. Sam spoke about the impact that boarding at St Peter’s had on his life, allowing him to focus on his training, helping him develop organisational skills and forming life-long friendships which would accompany Sam all the way to Paris.
After this first lecture Sam was joined by our A-Level PE students for an in-depth Q and A. The pupils asked Sam questions based on nutrition and how to fuel performance training, what a “rest” day looks like (Sam’s rest day is a 90minute run on a Sunday!), and what to do on the days that you don’t feel motivated. Sam finished the session with a very inspiring message – to remember that if it was easy, everyone would do it. You have to work hard every day to achieve your goals, and if you’re struggling one day, do what you can, and remember that the next day is a new opportunity.
After enjoying lunch in the new dining hall, Sam paid a visit to St Peter’s 2-8 where he explained to the Year 2 and Year 3 pupils what a triathlete did, what life was like at the Olympics, and highlighting the role of hard work in achieving one’s dreams. After this, the children got a chance to see Sam’s Olympic medal right up close!
The final visit of the day was a speech to St Peter’s 8-13. In front of a packed Shepherd Hall Sam told us some of the highlights of his path to Olympic glory, including his decision to pivot away from long distance running and the hard work he put in at school to improve all aspects of triathlon. In response to some insightful questions and observations he also spoke about the important of setting personal goals, such as fulfilling your own potential, as opposed to those which are reliant on external factors.
Sam managed to inspire and advise all ages on his return to the school, and it was an absolute pleasure to welcome him back. Thank you Sam, and good luck with the next stage of your triathlon journey!
