REPTON PUPILS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON OLYMPICS SUCCESS
As a world-class boarding school, Repton provides an exceptional broad-based education that balances high academic standards with quality pastoral care.
Sport is integral to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and more than 80% of pupils represent the school in at least one sport and every Reptonian participates in sport at least three times a week.
The Repton High Performance Programme enables promising young athletes to progress and develop their skills whilst shaping their attitudes and values, and providing a source of psychological support. We are very proud to support numerous pupils in their sporting endeavours, some of whom have aspirations to reach the Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028 Olympic games.
Claudia Swain – Hockey
Claudia is focused on going to the Junior U21 World Cup in South Africa this December and hopes to compete in future Olympic games.
“Repton has provided me with excellent facilities to enable me to carry on improving. We train numerous times each week and compete weekly, allowing me to focus on key aspects of my game to improve. We have fixtures against universities to test our team and allow us athletes to compete against other excellent hockey players."
Harry Spear – Tennis
Harry’s ultimate aim is to reach Wimbledon and he joined Repton in Year 9 to work alongside top-class coaches like Repton’s Director of Tennis, James Rushby, who is a Derbyshire men’s county tennis player. As well as being a talented tennis player, Harry pursues his passion for playing for the piano and plans to study Physics, Maths and Chemistry at A Level, in the hope of one day becoming Doctor.
Hetti D’Ammassa & Daniel Kennedy – Swimming
Repton’s Director of Swimming, Scott Talbot, has coached swimmers competing at the Beijing, London and Rio Olympics and is excited by the talent in Repton’s swim squad. Hetti and Daniel both came to Repton to have access to world-class coaching seven days a week that fits around their academic studies. Repton’s young swimmers follow in the wake of Adam Peaty MBE - Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder, who used Repton as his main training venue in the five years leading up to his historic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Saffron Cheffins – Muay Thai Boxing
Saffron joined Repton in Year 10 to realise her academic potential alongside her elite sport ambition.
"I’d played sport against Repton and knew that they had a proven track record both academically and in sports. There were numerous alumni who had achieved Olympic status. I wanted to be surrounded with elite sports pupils, teachers and facilities and learn and bounce off them.
“I have a package tailored to fit in with my training and academic needs. The school supports trips off-site to train and compete. I even have a mini gym facility in the boarding house and access to a specialist strength and conditioning suite.
"Although Muay Thai is not the most familiar of sports to most people, I feel so privileged to be developing in the sport at the time that it has just been awarded Olympic recognition and status.”
Ella Rush – Heptathlete
Ella is the youngest athlete to win the ‘triple crown’ of English Schools Combined Events titles in the 33 years of the championship. She won titles in each of the junior, intermediate and senior age groups and is the top U18 in the country. Ella aims to be at both the 2024 and 2028 Olympics and trains five times a week, supported by Repton to seamlessly combine her studies and training.
Elena Komova – Ice Skating
Elena has represented Great Britain internationally at the ISU Junior Grand Prix and World Championships in ice skating and is currently in Hungary competing in the Budapest Trophy competition in both the junior and senior categories.
“I would love to compete in the next Olympics. I am shortlisted for Youth Olympic Festival which was postponed from February 2021 until March 2022 due to Covid. I work hard at school and my teachers support me to make sure I catch up with all the work covered while I am away for competitions or training. I am up at 3.30am every day to enable me to train before school.”
Headmaster Mark Semmence said: "Sport, academics and the co-curricular exist together. Indeed, most pupils develop a lifelong love of sport and all appreciate the universal benefits participation in sport brings. It is not enough to simply have talent. These pupils display all the hallmarks of champions and Repton will continue to support them into their extremely bright futures."
A full article on Repton's Olympic hopefuls can he read on Derbyshire Live.