Team GB gymnast inspires primary pupils
17 November 2023
Olympic medallist and Commonwealth Games champion Daniel Purvis visits West Lothian primary schools
Primary school pupils in Bathgate were left head over heels after a special visit from Team GB gymnast Daniel Purvis.
The visit, which was arranged by local home builder Persimmon as part of their partnership with Team GB, saw Daniel make a special appearance at school assemblies at both St Mary’s RC Primary School and Balbardie Primary School in Bathgate.
Daniel told the pupils about his journey to winning medals for Scotland and Great Britain on the world stage before answering questions. He also showcased some off the skills that have seen him win a host of medals across a range of gymnastic disciplines. Some of the pupils were then given the chance to learn more about what it takes to succeed in the sport during a special PE lesson.
Daniel, a former European and British champion in gymnastics, took home gold in the parallel bars at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and was part of the bronze medal-winning GB men's team at the London Olympics in 2012.
Daniel Purvis said “I really enjoyed my visit to Bathgate and it was great to get such a warm welcome from staff and pupils at the local primary schools. Encouraging young people to get active and take up a sport is really important and through the partnership with Persimmon, we’re aiming to help inspire our next generation of medal-winners.”
West Lothian’s Executive Councillor for Education, Andrew McGuire, added “It was fantastic to welcome Team GB gymnast Daniel Purvis to both St. Mary’s and Balbardie primaries in Bathgate recently. I’m sure the pupils found it fascinating to learn from someone who has achieved so much success, and hopefully will inspire some of our pupils to consider what they can achieve with hard work and dedication in the future. Many thanks to Persimmon for arranging this visit for the benefit of our pupils.”
Laura Still, Persimmon East Scotland Sales Director, commented “One of the benefits of Persimmon’s partnership with Team GB is it gives us the opportunity to arrange these visits and give local pupils a unique chance to hear from someone who has reached the very top in their sport. It was brilliant to see the positive impact Daniel’s visit had on local pupils and hopefully it can inspire them to achieve their own successes in the future.”
