Youngsters delight in visit from Team GB’s Hannah Snellgrove

Team GB’s newest athlete Hannah Snellgrove donned her tracksuit and braved the rain to visit schoolchildren at Twyford St Mary’s Primary School.

Hannah, 33, will compete at Paris 2024, her first Olympics, in the ILCA 6 women’s dinghy class – but it’s been no easy ride to get to that point.

After taking up sailing aged seven at a local pond, Hannah fell in love with the sport and eventually got good enough to join the British Sailing Team.

But in 2014 she left the team, and took up coaching while working as a journalist at her local newspaper.

Refusing to give up on her Olympic dream, Hannah fought her way back onto the team, raising money through crowdfunding to finance her sailing.

It paid off, and in 2018 she was back. Six years on she has just become the 11th sailor named for Team GB at Paris 2024, joining a list of elite athletes to represent their nation at the Olympics.

Hannah’s story of grit and tenacity was front and centre when she dropped into Twyford St Mary’s Primary School to talk to the children there.

“The Q&A sessions were really fun, and I also signed about 148 t-shirts which was entertaining,” said Hannah.

“The children were really enthusiastic and asked some great questions, wanting to know I got to the Olympics and my journey through sport.

“It was really lovely to share with them. I remember going to events like this when I was a youngster and those memories have really stuck with me.

“I don’t feel that different now to that young 10-year-old listening to inspirational people talk, and hopefully some of the children will remember this moment and some will go on to be the athletes of the future.”