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Students interview 'inspirational' Paris athletes

Bethany Gwilliam
BBC News, Northamptonshire
PA Media four women are stood on a platform wearing a white tracksuit with the red great Britain Olympic branding on their tops. They are all looking in random directions, Kissing their gold medals and holding a gold tube of a map in their opposite hands. PA Media
Georgie Brayshaw, Lola Anderson, Hannah Scott and Lauren Henry won gold in the women's quadruple sculls

A university student who got the honour to interview three Paralympians and an Olympian said "it was inspirational to talk to amazing athletes".

Champion swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton, swimming twins Scarlett and Eliza Humphrey and gold medal-winning rower Georgie Brayshaw joined a round-table discussion hosted by the University of Northampton.

Students and staff listened while two people studying sports journalism asked questions about the athletes' time at the 2024 Paris Games.

Anna Fogden, who is in her second year of university, said: "I really thought about what to ask them, as to have amazing Olympians in our midst is so important."

Anna Fogden (right) and fellow student Tilly Gerra (centre) interviewing Scarlett and Eliza Humphrey (left) in a conference room in the Senate building.
Anna Fogden (right) and fellow student Tilly Gerra (centre) interviewed Scarlett and Eliza Humphrey (left) and other athletes

Ms Fogden said: "It was an amazing opportunity for me as I could sit with them, getting to know their lives and challenges they have faced."

She was particularly taken aback by Brayshaw's words, who said "lots of empowering statements - she knew what she wanted and I think that is important for everyone to take on board."

The rower, 31, who started her love for the sport at the University of Northampton, secured gold alongside team-mates Lauren Henry, Lola Anderson and Hannah Scott.

A head-and-shoulders shot of Maisie Summers-Newton smiling directly at the camera. Her hair is half up, half down. She is standing in front of a yellow and red climbing frame. She is wearing a GB Paralympic blue zip-up hoodie.
Maisie Summers-Newton, who trains with Northampton Swimming Club, is a five-time Paralympic medallist

Summers-Newton, from nearby Wollaston, won two gold medals and a bronze for Paralympics GB in Paris and is a recent teaching graduate from the university.

The 22-year-old trains with the Humphrey twins, from Northampton, who have been blind since birth.

They competed in the S11 class category – for blind or nearly blind swimmers - wearing blacked-out goggles, so it was fair for all competitors.

The swimmers are positioned in front of the camera with a pool behind them. They both have long brunette hair - Eliza has her hair in a ponytail, while Scarlett's is down and is curly. They are both wearing glasses and are smiling.
Northampton swimmers Eliza and Scarlett Humphrey took part in last year's Paralympics

Alongside Ms Fogden was fellow student Tilly Gerra, who was born with under-developed eyes.

Ms Gerra, 20, said: "It was great to represent the panel.

"I was really nervous because I had never done anything like it before."

Annabel Amos/BBC A blind student looking directly at the camera. She is stood in front of a white hall wearing a brown jumper with a red lanyard. She has short hair and in her right hand is her cane that is black with a brown handle at the top. Annabel Amos/BBC
Tilly Gerra, who took part in the discussion, uses braille for her coursework and a cane to move around the campus

She added: "A lot of the times people with disabilities are portrayed as amazing people, but they have just overcome obstacles that are a bit different to what other people have experienced.

"Hearing about those stories, especially from Eliza and Scarlett, can make you believe in yourself and what you're capable of as a person."

The panellists - with some wearing their red Team GB clothing - are sat at a table in a conference room, with people watching and listening. Behind them are TV screens showing rowing.
The discussion was held in the university's Senate building

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