Olympic star Dame Kelly Holmes encourages girls to get active (VIDEO)

DAME Kelly Holmes has met schoolgirls to encourage them to get involved in sport.

The double Olympic champion spent a day with 160 teenagers at Stafford Sports College.

She is currently on a tour of educational venues which have adopted the Girls Active scheme, a national programme to encourage participation in PE.

Pupils from 70 different secondary schools in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent attended the event, where they had the chance to try out rock-climbing, cheerleading, dance classes and rowing.

Kelly Holmes's dramatic gold medal win in the 800m at the Olympic Games in 2004

Dame Kelly said: "Young people get a bad bill sometimes but they can all achieve something as long as they are given the right opportunities.

"Girls Active is helping these teenagers to develop leadership qualities, improve their communication and learn the skills of teamwork.

"The scheme was started because research showed that 40 per cent of girls drop out of all sports activity by the time they are 18.

"When you combine that with many of them having problems with their body image, their confidence levels and their self-esteem, something had to be done to reach these girls.

"I started athletics when I was 12. It was something which other people believed I was good at and I enjoyed it so I kept it up.

"I had a very positive experience of sport as a teenager. I know sport can give youngsters more self esteem and belief in themselves."

Stafford Sports College headteacher Rowena Blencowe said: "Dame Kelly is one of the best people in the country to inspire young girls.

"She is a great advocate for sport and the Girls Active scheme is a great way to show teenage girls there are other ways to keep active."

Dame Kelly added: "Athletics has gone through a dip in recent years but there needs to be changes made to keep it on par with other sports.

"But we can have those medals on the rostrums in 2012 because we are going in the right direction, and those who have the hunger and who want it badly enough can make it happen."

Kelly Holmes on getting into athletics and being National School Sports Champion