Talk from Dwain Chambers

This week, we were incredibly fortunate to welcome British sprint legend Dwain Chambers to Hertswood Academy! Students from Years 7-10 gathered in our Theatre to hear Dwain's powerful and candid story, one which acts as a great example of the importance of the Hertswood Value of Resilience.

Dwain spoke openly about the doping scandal that impacted his career and the sport of athletics. He shared the difficult choices he made, the paranoia that influenced his decisions, and how his actions affected not only himself but also his teammates and the reputation of the sport he loved. He emphasised the long-lasting consequences of those choices, explaining how he still grapples with the impact even 20 years later.

Our students and staff engaged in a thought-provoking Q&A session, asking about everything from his relationships with teammates to his views on lifetime bans. Dwain encouraged our young people to talk about their problems rather than keeping them bottled up, highlighting how speaking about his experiences has become a form of therapy for him. His honesty and vulnerability resonated deeply, and he made a truly poignant case against substance abuse.

We are so grateful to Dwain for sharing his incredible journey and for being so open with our school community. He captivated the audience and left a lasting impression, and he was kind enough to stay afterwards for more questions and photos with our enthusiastic students. We hope his powerful message will inspire our students to make positive choices in their own lives.