In the Lap of Honour with Team GB

Autistic Conservative Charlie Keeble today as the Para Olympics commence, shares his Lap of Honour with Team GB.

On Saturday 14th August I went down the to London Olympic Stadium in Stratford. I had won a ticket for a chance to meet the British Olympic athletes at an event called the Lap of Honour. This event was a great chance for me to meet my heroes of Team GB after they won 65 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

I have been a huge fan of the Olympics and Team GB for years and I always get excited in time for the Olympics whenever they come round. It is a great honour to meet these people who have represented Great Britain in a broad diversity of sports. I love the diversity of sports and the way it brings out all the different styles and abilities of sporting personalities. This was the first time I had actually been to the stadium itself and I got to hold a London 2012 torch bearer’s gold torch. It was even more remarkable to see the Team GB mascot Pride the Lion.

At this event I got to run around the circumference of the stadium outside in one lap. I was fortunate to be able to run side by side with weightlifter silver medallist Emily Campbell and hockey player Hannah Martin. I got to see gold medallist diver Jack Laugher, silver medal track cyclist Josie Knight, and wall climber Shauna Coxsey. My favourite was meeting BMX freestyler Charlotte Worthington who won a gold medal. I told her that it was great of the Olympics to inspire another group of athletes and I think it increased our medal haul. Especially as they Olympics were now recognising the value of urban sports like BMX biking, skateboarding and rock climbing. All of these athletes were thrilling for me to meet and I congratulated them for their achievements and bringing home the gold and most importantly for representing our country.