Chinthurst School was delighted to welcome British hammer throw record holder Katie Head on Monday morning, marking an exciting start to Multi-Sports Week.

The day began with a whole-school assembly in which Katie shared her remarkable journey as a young female athlete. Sport runs in her family, both her father and brother are hammer throwers, with her father now coaching her. Although she first enjoyed swimming, rugby and netball, Katie discovered her true passion in hammer throw, quickly rising through the ranks. She represented Essex at just 14, broke multiple British records by 16, and now holds four national records. At 18, she made her Great Britain debut, later competing at the World Championships and making her senior debut at 22.

Katie spoke passionately about the dedication required to succeed at an elite level. She follows a rigorous training schedule combining weightlifting and sprint work, even revealing that her personal best in the gym includes an impressive 225kg box squat. She also highlighted the importance of nutrition, recovery, and adapting training throughout the year, lifting heavier in winter before focusing on speed and agility during competition season.

The children were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions about her achievements and training. They were fascinated to learn that her furthest throw is 69.72 metres and that perfecting her release comes down to muscle memory, repetition, and visualisation.

Following the assembly, Katie led a series of energetic workshops for children from Reception through to Year 6. The sessions included warm-ups, quick feet drills, high knees, press-ups, and star jumps. Katie’s encouragement, expert tips, and positivity inspired every child to challenge themselves and keep going, even when it felt tough.

It was an incredible start to Multi-Sports Week, leaving children feeling energised, motivated, and ready to embrace the sporting challenges ahead. We extend our sincere thanks to Katie Head for her inspiring visit, reminding us all of the power of hard work, determination, and self-belief.