Littlehampton teens tackle day-long sporting challenge

But after more than 24 hours of non-stop sport, 22 teenagers from the school, in Hill Road, completed its first “Olympathon” on Saturday morning (July 14) – raising a hefty sum for charity, in the process.

The youngsters, from years-nine and 10, were thrown to the floor, dunked underwater and duelled with fencing foils during the charity event, which raised more than £2,000 for good causes in Littlehampton.

Students began their gruelling programme on Friday morning (July 14) with an hour-long game of football, before moving onto other activities that will all feature in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In the afternoon, the team took part in a draining judo session, under the expert gaze of black belt instructors from the Littlehampton-based Judokan Judo Club, as well as a synchronised swimming session at the Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre.

The schedule also put the teens through their paces during an exhausting athletics session – at 4am.

All the money raised during will be donated to homeless charity HOMElink, the Southern Area Disability Partnership and Enable Me.

Achievement

Speaking about the sporting challenge, the academy’s head boy, Paddy Chapman, said: “It feels great to have completed it. It was extremely tiring but it’s a great sense of achievement. It was an amazing experience.”

Other students agreed that it had been an “overwhelming” experience and one that they would never forget.

Sarah Wolfenden, head of PE, praised all the youngsters for completing the endurance trial with PE teacher and event leader, Richard Hanks, adding: “It was an enormous challenge but one that all the students rose to. Their determination to complete the task was overwhelming. They have raised an extraordinary amount of money and should be very proud of themselves.”

Mr Hanks thanked all the staff, coaches and parents for their help during the day.