Crista Cullen returns to show off Bronze medal
11 September 2012
Oakhamian Olympian Crista Cullen returned to Oakham to show off her Olympic Bronze medal won in the women’s hockey.
Crista was under the impression that after lunch with the headmaster she was to meet the boys and girls 1st XI hockey players but instead, as part of a surprise, she was greeted by nearly 1500 Oakham pupils, teachers and support staff in front of Stumps pavilion.
Oakham Director of Sport Iain Simpson congratulated Crista on a career that has spanned 11 years and over 170 England and GB caps. Mr Simpson explained how the whole school had been following the team's progress through the groups stages and how many were there at the Riverside Stadium to watch the matches including the semi-final, the bronze medal match and the teams medal ceremony. Crista said that she was overwhelmed by the welcome and told the school pupils that her Olympic dream had started here at Oakham and encouraged them to be inspired and to follow their dreams whatever they may be in whatever area of life. She went on to tell them to savour their time at school and that she felt it was such a privilege to represent both her country and Oakham School.
Headmaster Nigel Lashbrook summed up proceedings saying that Crista had certainly inspired a generation nationally but especially here at Oakham and thanked Crista for everything that she had done for the school over the past few years.
