One of the world’s best athletes challenged a group of teachers in a test of endurance in High Wycombe at the weekend.

Current Olympic, World and European champion in the Skeleton, Lizzy Yarnold is an ambassador of Wycombe-based student expedition company World Challenge, and was invited to attend a special event at Bucks New University on Sunday.

After speaking at a conference aimed at teachers who are taking students abroad on an expedition, the gold medallist tested her fitness against her peers in a “bleep test” – running lengths against the clock.

The 26-year-old said: “Testing your fitness is so important if you’re looking to improve your stamina, particularly ahead of a tough World Challenge expedition.

“It’ll be great fun to test the teachers who are preparing to take their students on what will be a trip of a lifetime.

“Expeditions like the ones World Challenge provides offer a great opportunity for young adults to experience the world and make a real difference to others, as well as themselves.

“Physical fitness is also a hot topic at the moment, and preparing for an expedition can be a great way to get teenagers active with a definite end goal to work towards.

“The skills gained on these expeditions are also invaluable to adult life; from going to university to getting on the career ladder.

“You really learn how to cooperate and work with others as part of a team, lead and manage a project, and develop a healthy amount of resilience.”

Bucks Free Press:

Before taking on the world in sporting competition, as a student in Maidstone Ms Yarnold visited Maya Route in 2006 on a World Challenge tour.

She was recently crowned World and European champion following on from her gold medal success in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, last year.

Paul Morgan, Head of Sport at BNU, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Lizzy Yarnold and World Challenge to Bucks New University.

“We are fully supportive of the principles and ethos behind World Challenge and the unique benefits that it offers participants.”