Dame Kelly Holmes Opens Supercharged Sports Centre

Team GB legend and wellbeing campaigner Dame Kelly Holmes opened Caterham School’s new supercharged sports centre on Tuesday 27 February. The double gold medal winning athlete led an indoor sports session with East Surrey Learning Partnership and local junior schools and answered their many questions before joining Caterham pupils for a GCSE and A Level sports training session. Dame Kelly shared her career highlights and challenges with the pupils as well as her belief in the importance of having a dream and pursuing it with determination and resilience, and the importance of lifelong friendships.

Dame Kelly set and still holds the British records in the 800m and 1000m, is an Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion that has achieved seven Gold, eight Silver and four Bronze medals throughout her career. This includes her double win in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the first Briton in over 80 years to do so. After her Olympic success, she won BBC Sports Personality of the Year, European Athlete of the Year and was honoured with a Damehood from the Queen.

Before cutting the ribbon on the new Sports Centre Dame Kelly met with teachers, parents, trustees and members of the local community. Remarking on the School’s sports facilities, the school’s fielding of A to E teams each week and the drive to support community sport, Dame Kelly said: “With investment anything is possible but the school is brilliant at opening them (sports facilities) to the local community, everyone benefits.  The enthusiasm of the head, the teachers, support staff and, my favourite, the PE teachers is amazing.”

First and Second Year pupils made sure the count down to opening was heard across the Harestone Valley before confetti cannons fired and the building was officially declared open. Caterham’s supercharged Sports Centre contains a purpose designed and fitted professional standard performance gym, sports teaching facilities, changing facilities and new sports cafe in addition to a 25-metre swimming pool and multi-purpose sports hall.

In addition to enhancing the school’s facilities for pupils the centre is open to the local community for individual use,  for use by local state-maintained school partners and community sports groups for training and coaching sessions. Caterham School also hosts the town’s community sports clubs including rugby, lacrosse and cricket clubs at its Hill Fields sports grounds.

The wider importance of sport was a key theme of the official opening day. Soon after her double gold medal win, Kelly set up the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. The charity helps guide disadvantaged young people, getting their lives back on track by using world class athletes to engage, enable and empower, attitudes they need to fulfil a positive life. She encourages the same philosophy that she lives by, nothing is impossible.

Click below to view a gallery of the new facilities.