Raced against Ben Ainslie on UK Youth Squad as a teenager.
Taught Jessica Ennis when I was supply teacher in King Ecgberts, and was working with Nicola Minichiello (another supply teacher) who went on to three winter Olympics and is now married to Toni Minichiello.
I spent a lovely afternoon chatting to the mother of the man placed 5th in the 110m finals a couple of years ago. She’ll be as proud as can be, and rightly so! I raise a glass of rum to her!
I know all the pentathaletes, well enough to go out on the lash with them ( one was the housemate of mini transapps god father). I once cooked dinner for one of the girls in my pre married days, hoping to get my wicked way only to have to sleep in the next room while she noshed my mate…
I knew a girl called Gemma Gibons (not the same one) Also knew a girl called Beth Tweddle who did gymnastics (also not the same one). A girl I used to Kayak with is now free style world champ and was doing displays at Lee valley white water course and I once overtook lizzie armtitage on a ride (until she started pedaling again and dropped me.)