Olympian Dame Katherine Grainger visits Putney High School

Britain’s most decorated female Olympian Dame Katherine Grainger was the guest speaker at Putney High School’s sports award dinner, which celebrated the achievements of sportswomen over the past year.

Putney has a special connection with Katherine: Headmistress Suzie Longstaff, then Suzie Ellis, coxed Katherine’s boat at the 1997 World Championships, when they earned a bronze medal, the first of many in Katherine’s long and illustrious career.

In her keynote speech, Katherine took the audience through her journey from a university fresher who had never shown any interest in rowing to a successful Olympian and highlighted the importance of gradual progress. She inspired current Putney pupils to continue pushing themselves to the next level no matter what stage they are at because the possibilities of where that can take them are endless.