SHERBORNE’S Leweston School was thrilled to welcome Olympian and world number one Jamie Cooke for their official launch of its GB Pentathlon Academy.

Leweston was awarded academy status by Pentathlon GB in January, making it the eighth Pentathlon academy in the country, in recognition of the contribution the school has made to the sport of Modern Pentathlon and the development of Leweston and local community athletes.

The school played host to pupils from Sunninghill and Knighton House Schools for a taster day to help celebrate this accolade.

The children joined a group of Leweston pupils for a morning of multi-sport action, trying their hands at biathle (swim/run), fencing and shooting as well as witnessing a triathlon demonstration by seasoned Dorset Pentathletes, many of whom are Leweston pupils.

The session was overseen by Leweston and Team GB coach Mick Flaherty, Richard Major and Cooke, who was on hand to offer encouragement and advice throughout the morning.

Cooke recently returned from Rio where he sadly missed out on a medal, despite setting a new modern pentathlon Olympic record in the 200m freestyle swimming with a time of 1:55.60.

He was a real hit with the pupils, with many stating what an inspiration he is to them, as well as taking numerous selfies with him and asking him for plenty of autographs.

A couple even challenged Cooke to a ‘shoot-off’, with a Year 11 pupil beating his score.

As an academy, Leweston runs a number of popular training programmes, camps and competitions throughout the year for the multi-sport events for nine to 18-year-olds.

These are targeted not only at pupils from Leweston, but at local athletes from schools and clubs in the region and all are welcome to get involved.

Details of all such upcoming Pentathlon Academy events are published on the school’s website.

n More details at leweston.co.uk/quick-links/pentathlon-academy