Olympic hockey heroes meet runners at Maidenhead Parkrun

Sporting success was brought to Maidenhead’s 73rd Parkrun after two women’s hockey players who won gold in the Rio Olympics arrived at Braywick to meet the runners.

Shona McCallin and Lily Owsley, who had only touched down in Britain on Tuesday, August 23, took questions from the runners before and after the fitness event on Saturday, August 27.

The run takes place every weekend and usually attracts about 200 runners during the summer. However, with the added attraction of two Rio heroes, the numbers swelled.

The Olympians arrived as part of the I Am Team GB initiative, launched by the National Lottery and ITV to encourage people to get active.

McCallin and Owsley had their photo taken with adults and children before the race began.

Owsley went on to race with the other runners, and when asked what time she hoped to run today, she admitted: “I haven’t run since the final.”

McCallin said: “If we can inspire girls like these ones today, that would be really good.”