Sport can save teenagers from a life of crime, says Olympian

British athlete Jenny Meadows training runners at a new athletics track in Finsbury Park. She says sport can help people deal with “difficult things in life”
The London Marathon Charitable Trust
Isobel Frodsham2 July 2018

British Olympic athlete Jenny Meadows believes running can save London teenagers from a life of crime.

The 37-year-old, who holds the British indoor 800m record, said sport can help youngsters deal with “difficult things in life”.

She told the Standard: “Sport can help stop people from getting into crime. For people going through difficult things, if they can get involved in sports, they’ll find there’s another way of challenging themselves.”

Speaking as she held a running workshop at a new athletics track in Finsbury Park, she said: “Sport has been brilliant for me and helped me with so many skills. I was really under-confident when I was in school and I had to go to a speech therapist. Now I stand up in front of people and speak to them. Without sport, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity or chance.”

Former Team GB athletes Donna Fraser and Jenny Meadows officially open the London Marathon Athletics track at Finsbury Park with the Heathside Athletics Club
The London Marathon Charitable Trust

The new track, sponsored by the London Marathon, will be used by hundreds of athletes from the London Heathside club.

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