Pupils learn to play disability sports

Children at a village school enjoyed a day learning to play Boccia with a Paralympian.
Paralympian Michael Mansell teaches Boccia to Chestnut Street pupils in Ruskington. EMN-160623-154259001Paralympian Michael Mansell teaches Boccia to Chestnut Street pupils in Ruskington. EMN-160623-154259001
Paralympian Michael Mansell teaches Boccia to Chestnut Street pupils in Ruskington. EMN-160623-154259001

Martin Mansell is a wheelchair athlete who won a gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games in 100m backstroke and is a nine times Paralympic medallist.

He now teaches children about disability sports to widen their experience and show how all children can participate in sporting activities with their peers.

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On Wednesday he taught children at Ruskington’s Chestnut Street Primary School a game like bowls, suitable for wheelchair users, called Boccia and over the next two termshe will be in the school (after he returns from Rio) to teach the children a range of different sports.

Headteacher Laura Suffield explained he will also talk to pupils about how everyone is able to access sport and games that can be played where everyone has the same opportunity regardless of ability. The children particularly enjoyed the chance to wear his medals!