Inspiring Young Movers: Using Inspirational Athletes to Engage Children in Primary PE
At PE PRO, we believe that high-quality Physical Education is about more than developing physical skills. It is about inspiring children, building confidence, and helping pupils see themselves as active, capable individuals. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this is by introducing children to inspirational athletes and the stories behind their success.
Across all primary age groups, real-life role models can transform how children engage with PE, particularly those who may not yet see sport as “for them”.
Why Athletes Inspire Children
Children naturally look up to athletes. They admire their achievements, resilience, and dedication. When pupils learn that elite performers were once children just like them, facing challenges, making mistakes, and learning through practice, sport suddenly feels more relatable and achievable.
Athletes’ stories can help pupils:
Develop motivation and enthusiasm for physical activity
Understand the value of perseverance and hard work
Build self-belief, especially in children who lack confidence
Recognise that success in sport comes in many forms
In PE lessons, these messages are just as important as physical outcomes.
Bringing Athlete Stories into Primary PE
Inspirational athletes can be used meaningfully across the primary PE curriculum, not just as a one-off experience. Teachers can integrate athlete role models in age-appropriate ways:
EYFS and KS1
Young children respond particularly well to simple stories and visuals. Sharing short narratives about athletes who love running, jumping or throwing helps pupils associate PE with enjoyment and imagination. Activities can be framed around “moving like an athlete”, encouraging exploration and confidence.
KS2
Older pupils benefit from deeper discussion. Athletes’ journeys can be linked to goal setting, resilience, and personal improvement. For example, learning how a track athlete trained over time can lead into conversations about practice, discipline, and overcoming setbacks, skills that transfer far beyond PE.
These approaches help children see PE as a space for growth, not comparison.
The Impact of Meeting an Athlete in Person
While videos and stories are valuable, nothing compares to meeting an athlete face-to-face. School visits from professional sportspeople create memorable experiences that pupils talk about long after the day itself.
At PE PRO, we are proud to work in partnership with Athletes in Schools, an organisation that provides famous track and field athletes for inspiring school visits. These athletes share their personal journeys, demonstrate skills, and engage pupils in interactive sessions that bring PE to life.
These visits can:
Spark enthusiasm in pupils who are disengaged from sport
Reinforce positive attitudes to physical activity
Provide powerful real-world role models
Support whole-school values such as resilience, respect and aspiration
Importantly, athletes do not present themselves as “perfect performers”, but as individuals who worked hard, learned from failure, and remained committed to their goals.
Supporting Teachers and Whole-School Impact
Athlete visits are most effective when they are embedded within a broader PE approach. Teachers can link visits to:
PE lessons and units of work
Assemblies and PSHE discussions
Writing tasks, reflections, or presentations
School values and enrichment programmes
This ensures the inspiration does not end when the visitor leaves but continues to shape pupils’ attitudes and engagement with physical activity.
Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Sport
Primary school is a crucial time for shaping children’s attitudes towards movement and sport. When pupils feel inspired, supported, and motivated, they are far more likely to remain active as they grow.
By using inspirational athletes and giving pupils the chance to meet them, schools can create powerful moments that influence confidence, aspiration, and participation for years to come.
If you would like to find out more about PE PRO’s partnership with Athletes in Schools, and how athlete visits can support your PE provision, get in touch with us today.
Together, we can start inspiring children to get into sport and build positive relationships with physical activity that last a lifetime.
