Chaucer Junior School, Ilkeston, had a special visitor today – hammer thrower Anna Purchase took time off from her training schedule to meet and talk to children at their assembly.
Anna has qualified for the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham representing Team England.
The children were soon captivated as she told her story.
Anna started throwing at the age of 13. This is when she was spotted by her first coach. She is currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley, Before that she studied at the University of Nebraska.
Her throwing has taken her all around the world, including Estonia, Spain, Australia and 15 states of the USA.
This year she has improved to be only the second British woman ever to break the 70m barrier and is still currently the 2nd best British woman hammer thrower of all time.
Anna is so excited to have the opportunity to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as it’s her first major championships and with her being a local girl, she can compete in front of her family and a home crowd.
Some of the children were given the chance to ask Anna questions and to present her with ‘Good Luck’ posters they had made for her.
Anna says she will take them with her to the Games.

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