Duchess of Cambridge meets families behind sports stars of the future

The Duchess of Cambridge has paid tribute to the nation's parents as the unsung "nutritionists, laundry service, psychologists and financiers" behind the next generation of Olympic heroes.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who took part in athletics and taekwondo at an event supporting the parents of Britain’s most talented young athletes, said they go "above and beyond the call of duty".

“You may not always feel appreciated, or sometimes even noticed on the sidelines, in the car park or sitting high in the stands," she said. "But I am so proud that SportsAid recognises how key your role is and that they understand the challenges and worries you face."

She added: "As a parent, I have a huge admiration for you and I know just how complex and time-consuming your role is."

The Duchess had tried out the starting blocks on an indoor track at the London Stadium with Olympic gold medalist heptathlete Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and parasprinter Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker.

Wheelchair athlete Danny Sidbury raced alongside them.

Known as a keen sportswoman, she won praise for her technique from the athletes after asking to have a second go at coming out of the blocks and beginning to run down the track.

“I think she did really, really well,” Ennis-Hill, 34, one of the heroines of London 2012, said after coming out of retirement to show off her technique.

“I felt really nervous. I hadn’t been in a pair of blocks for years.” Tokyo Paralympics hopeful Oyinbo-Coker, 18, agreed.

“Not bad for a rookie,” he said, after admitting: “I didn’t want anyone to see her beat me.”

His coach, Coral Nourrice, gave the future Queen some tips on pushing off from her more powerful foot, her right, to improve the start.

“I think she enjoyed it. You could see by her face. She wasn’t fazed by it at all,” she said. The Duchess went to the former London Olympics stadium, now the home of West Ham United, to join an event for parents of talented young sports stars funded by the charity SportsAid.

During the event she also tried her hand at taekwondo, packing a powerful punch into some pads after a few minutes of coaching  from Olympic athlete Lutalo Muhammad, who hopes to add a gold medal in Tokyo this summer to the silver and bronze medals he has won at the last two Games.

“Her right hand was mean,” he said. “Trust me, that was a hard punch. It was better than expected.

“She passed with flying colours. I’m glad I didn’t let her punch me."

Kate has been the patron since 2013 of SportsAid, which supports 1,000 athletes aged 12-18 each year with grants of up to £1,000 to help with training and competition costs, equipment, and advice on nutrition, life balance and other issues.

The mother-of-three chatted to parents and young athletes about the pressures and sacrifices involved in competing at elite level.

In a speech to them later, she said: “It’s been fascinating to speak to so many of you here today and also to hear, just now, about some of the experiences you all have, as young athletes and as parents.

“SportsAid are a shining example of how organisations can reach out and listen to families, and provide the best support possible to enable their children to flourish.

“The crucial role that parents and caregivers play in our children’s lives cannot be underestimated.

“For all of you here, you go, and have gone, above and beyond the call of duty; you’ve committed your time and devotion to nurturing your children’s exceptional talents. And as a parent, I have a huge admiration for you and I know just how complex and time-consuming your role is.

“You are simultaneously the transport and logistics managers, nutritionists, laundry service, psychologists, financiers, and crucially, the ones that provide love, support and encouragement when things are tough.

“You may not always feel appreciated, or sometimes even noticed on the sidelines, in the car park or sitting high in the stands. But I am so proud that SportsAid recognises how key your role is and that they understand the challenges and worries you face.”

She also met Olympic gold medalist swimmer Rebecca Adlington and boxer David Haye, the former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion. Both are former recipients of grants from SportsAid, which had backed 150 of Great Britain’s medal winners at the 2016 Rio Olympics, around two-thirds of the total.

Haye, 39, is an ambassador for the charity but also now knows the sacrifices that parents make, not just those with children who are elite athletes but also those just competing in sport locally. His son Cassius, 11, is on the GB tennis squad and he now finds himself driving him all over the country to competitions and training events.

“It’s the circle of life,” he said. “I’m here as an ambassador but I am also getting advice from some of the parents who are in a similar position to me.”

Ennis-Hill, 34, has two children aged five and two so is not at that stage yet but she said coming to the event had made her realise how big a sacrifice her parents made for her. “I have a lot of respect for what my parents did for me, how they nurtured me,” she said. “They provided everything I needed but had very little.”