STUDENTS from Waltham Forest took part in a national sports day on Thursday last week alongside their Olympic heroes.

As part of preparations for Lloyds TSB’s National School Sport Week due to start later this month, children from across London shared Regent’s Park for the day to try out different Olympic sports.

Olympic and Paralympic medallists Jason Gardner, Gail Emms, and Ade Adepitan mucked in with the kids and signed T-shirts.

But one thirteen year old from Chingford Foundation School got more than he bargained for when he met his Olympic idol Iwan Thomas.

Ryan Richefond of Woodberry Way, Chingford, was one student who took part in the day’s activities.

After playing a game of volleyball with Thomas, he was then able to get a few tips from the former sprinter for his school 400m race later that day.

Ryan said: “He was such a cheater - he always wants to win.

“I run 400m for my school myself, so I was able to get a few tips from him for my race.

“I think every school can learn something new from these events.

“I’ve been teaching younger students in sport for the last two years. I have taken some good teaching tips.

“I now know how to get people more enthusiastic in sport.”

Claire Huddins, 15, of Groveside Road, was the school’s eldest participant - chosen to represent her school as the only key stage 4 student.

Now, she is hoping to take some of her new experiences away with her to involve in other schools around Waltham Forest.

She said: “We organised a sports day for 240 primary school children, which will introduce year threes and fours to new modified sports such as freestyle football, tag rugby, and speed sets.

“We had six key stage three children who took part and I represented our key stage four students.

“I think this will encourage students to do some of sports we’ve been doing here back in school.”

Chingford Foundation School sports co-ordinater Shona Gordon, 46, organised her students’ trip to Regent’s Park.

She is also a member for the Waltham Forest Northern Sports Partnership that promotes sport in the area.

She said: “I was given an opportunity to bring some students down to Regent’s Park and take part i some events and talk about their experiences in school sport.

“It was fantastic. The children absolutely loved it.”

Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week will be from Monday, June 28 to Friday, July 2.