PUPILS at Whitstone Community Primary School were delighted to recently welcome Cassandra Patten to speak at their assembly and lead them in some sport activities.

Cassie, originally from Cornwall, gave an inspirational talk, revealing the difficulties she had to face as a youngster, the challenges she encountered in school and how she discovered swimming as an activity in which to channel her enthusiasm and to express her talent, before going on to become one of Britain’s most versatile and successful swimmers. She is one of the legends of open water swimming, and one of only nine British swimming athletes to win a medal at the Olympic Games during the last 20 years.

As well as being a bronze medallist at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Cassie is also a double world silver medallist and cup winner and European Champion, achieving the distinction of being the first swimmer in the world to reach a final in the pool and win a medal in an open water event at an Olympic games.

As a result, pupils are looking forward to their swimming sessions in the autumn term.