Olympic long jumper, Chris Tomlinson, came to Kent last week to inspire kids to achieve their sporting dreams.

The 30 year old from Middlesbrough visited The Orchard School in Canterbury as part of the Team Super Schools project that sees Olympians go into schools and teach children the values of the the sporting event, along with showing them the way to live your life to become a success.

Welcomed by around seventy children at the special school, Tomlinson went through the process of showing each of them some exercises he undertakes to be the British long jump record holder, whilst answering a variety of questions on his lifestyle.

Tomlinson also participated in a signing of a British flag with one lucky pupil Ben Farrell, who will see his signature flying high in the Olympic village in 2012.

With the Olympics so close to Kent and with nationwide obesity an issue, The Orchard School’s Headteacher Nikki Mason was thrilled to have the gold medal prospect at her school:

“We’re so thrilled that Gaynor Harvey, our subject leader for PE, managed to secure us this visit. For a small special school like Orchard to have somebody that has such great potential and has come from a humble background, is absoultely fantastic.”

“For our children to have someone with such national standing is so inspiring. We have a lot of children here that are sporty and may find academia quite difficult, but they enjoy sport and it’s a great outlet for all their energies.”

“We’ve done a lot of work around the five Olympic values and children have been allowed to wear their sporty clothing as a treat.”

“Although we are an Arts College, sports is important to our kids and we are always looking at introducing new sports to them like kick boxing along with things like sailing, archery and trampolining.”

With the Olympics just nine months away now, The Orchard School, like many around the county are planning events around few weeks of sporting action:

“We’re looking into what we can do at the time and if we can take some kids to Stratford that would be great. It’s in the school holidays, but we are looking into ways at whether we can do something around the Paralympics as well.”

Tomlinson has had a variety of injuries over the years, but feels he is starting to find some form ahead of next year and believes he has a real chance of standing on the rostrum at Stratford:

“I am starting to train hard between now and then. I have been one of the top jumpers in the world, but I haven’t stood on that top step of the rostrum in the World or European Championships and that’s something I’m inspired to do.”

“I believe I have the potential to do that, I have beaten the best guys in the world. Unfortunately I have got hurt at the wrong times, but if I can stay injury free I feel I have a great chance of getting a medal.”

With some sports stars portrayed in the media as being less than keen to help out in the community, Tomlinson is the complete opposite and explained his reasons for wanting to be involved in the Team Super Schools project:

“There are certain athletes that like to take themselves off and play on playstations, but for me I like to get involved, come into schools and really try to put something back.”

“If I can inspire a few kids then that’s great and that’s why I enjoy doing it.”

“When I was young I was inspired by certain athletes and I think when you are fortunate enough to have been to the Olympics that you put something back in.”

“It’s given me an awful lot has sport and if I can inpsire one or two youngsters to be different then that’s great.”

“For me it’s not just what you can get out of being an Olympian, it’s the morals you learn and the ethics of hard work, discipline and commitment that serves you well in life.”

Chris Tomlinson has a personal best of 8.27m in the long jump – that’s the length of almost two Ford Mondeo’s parked one behind the other!