AN OLYMPIAN swimmer visited York to promote a new health scheme this week.

Duncan Goodhew MBE, who won gold in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 1980 Olympics visited Burnholme College to talk about The Golden Mile.

Goodhew is an ambassador for the project, which aims to inspire and encourage schoolchildren through physical activity, and reward personal achievement, leadership and school competition, and is being introduced with support from City of York Council and the Department Of Health.

Neil Gibson from City of York Council's sport and active leisure team, said: "We look forward to working with Premier Sport in getting more children, more active, more often. We see The Golden Mile as being a fun, cost effective, sustainable and measurable way of achieving this. I’m sure schools will be really happy with this initiative."

Duncan Goodhew said: "I’m absolutely thrilled that schools across York have access to The Golden Mile initiative. The programme not only removes barriers to doing regular physical exercise but it can also measure fitness levels of children and rewards them for achievement. I’m excited to meet the children from, talk about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and inspire them to one day win gold for their country like I did all those years ago."