Focus on... Sarah Stevenson

Olympic Medallist – Taekwondo (Still Competing)

I heard about the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust from Chris McGeorge, my Loughborough college tutor.

I am primarily involved in the Backing Talent scheme, where my role as a harnessing talent athlete, is to help young athletes develop their skills in all areas. I try to act as a role model and someone they can look up to. I think it’s a great thing for the young athletes to see people like me getting involved and seeing that we all had to start somewhere. This scheme helps them realise that things are possible and we can all achieve goals, whatever they may be.

As well as helping the young athletes, the Trust also helps older athletes like myself and retired athletes to develop our skills for present and future endeavours. For me, the Trust helps with a range of knowledgeable skills that I can use for when I decide to retire. I love the idea of giving something back to young athletes. In my sport, Taekwondo, there haven’t really been opportunities for people to give something back to the younger athletes. Being part of the Trust is helping me develop skills that I can take into my own sport.

The main skill I have gained from the Trust is to believe in myself as a role model. I now understand that young athletes want to hear from people like myself and I don’t want all my knowledge to go to waste. I want to develop my own Taekwondo camps where I will try to pass on my skills to young taekwondo athletes.

In terms of what I am doing now, I am still competing at a top level. Although I had major surgery on my ankle after Beijing, it was a great opportunity to be a part of the Trust whilst I was injured. Now I am nearly 100% and look forward to competing in my main goal for this year, the World Championships. 

Click here to be taken to Sarah’s DKHLT biography