Team GB athletes inspire students at Co-op Academy Swinton breakfast club
Olympians Eve Muirhead and Laura Deas spent the morning meeting pupils at Co-op Academy Swinton, sharing stories from their sporting journeys and encouraging students to aim high.
Co-op Academy Swinton welcomed two Team GB athletes on Monday 17 November as part of a special visit with Magic Breakfast and Quaker, celebrating the importance of starting the day well.
Olympic Champion Eve Muirhead, who skippered Team GB to gold in women’s curling at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and Laura Deas, who won a bronze medal in skeleton at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, spent the morning connecting with students during the school’s busy breakfast club.
The athletes arrived early to join pupils in the canteen, where they moved between tables, chatted with students and heard about school life at Swinton. Towards the end of the session, they spoke to the room about their sporting journeys: from first trying their sports, to the hard work and resilience needed to compete on the world stage. Students were especially interested in hearing how Eve became one of Britain’s most successful curlers and how Laura prepares for a sport that reaches speeds of over 70mph.
Pupils were then invited to take photos with the athletes before the breakfast club came to a close, giving many a memorable start to their Monday.
After a short break, Eve and Laura visited a Year 8 PE class for a presentation and Q&A. They brought medals and equipment, allowing students to learn more about curling and skeleton. The question session offered pupils a chance to discover what keeps elite athletes motivated and how healthy habits support performance.
The morning finished with a larger sports talk for BTEC Sport students in the hall.
"It was a privilege to have Eve and Laura start our day with us at Breakfast Club. Eve and Laura worked with many groups of students, inspiring them to understand that big dreams start with healthy habits. Our students had the opportunity to ask questions, experience the Olympians sporting equipment and received an interactive sports session delivered by these amazing athletes. The excitement in the academy was unreal!"
The visit also highlighted why breakfast clubs matter so much in schools. A calm, nutritious start to the day helps pupils settle, feel ready to learn and build positive relationships with staff and friends. For many students, breakfast club is a place to connect, chat and ease into the school morning. Magic Breakfast’s support means every child can access something to eat if they need it, helping them stay focused in lessons and giving them the energy to take part in school life.
