CHELMSFORD hurdling sensation Hayley McLean has been helping youngsters from the city get excited about sport, writes Emily Clark.
McLean, 18, recently won gold at the European Junior Championships, and last week was at the Chelmsford Sports and Athletics Centre for a special event.
She showed off her medal to the group – aged between eight and ten – and help them to find what they are most passionate about in sport.
McLean said: "It's very important for young people to participate and get involved. I started when I was 11 which isn't really young enough, so starting them at eight, they're at that budding age!
"No one is ever sure what they will excel at or what they will most enjoy so things like this give them a chance to try things out.
"I think it's quite inspiring and they were quite fascinated."
She feels that her feat could be motivation for the youngsters. "I've gone through all the stages that they're going through now," she said.
McLean, a member of Chelmsford Athletics Club, admitted she was "speechless" after her success in Rieti, and has set her sights on next year's Commonwealth Games, and is also targeting the Rio Olympics in 2016.
"I keep having to look at the medal and check it was all real," she added.
"My family are fantastic, they're always driving me from A to B, I have no time to learn to drive!
"I want to say a huge thank you to my coach, who is now training me full-time.
"I'm so grateful to everyone who has given up their time."
