Two-time Olympian Montell Douglas is injecting the fire of a Gladiator into the younger sporting generation during National School Sports Week.

The former track and bobsleigh athlete recently appeared as Fire in the 2024 reboot of the classic TV game show 'Gladiators' and is using her newfound on-screen presence to advocate on the importance of sport.

Douglas brought her spark to the launch of the Youth Sport Trust's 2024 National School Sports Week at Swiss Cottage School in London, the start of a weeklong annual campaign which aims to champion the role of PE, physical activity, and school sport in allowing all pupils to reach their full potential.

Students had the opportunity to take part in an accessible sports session led by Douglas and Paralympian Tim Prendergast, in what the Gladiator believed was a showcase of just how impactful embracing your unique self through sport can be.

“I really think that having the opportunity to be on screen and a role model in a new way other than an Olympian is really humbling," she said.

“It’s about giving someone who might feel different or might feel like an outcast that room to grow and feel like they belong.

“I always say that there’s a gladiator in everybody and you very much see that as everyone has their own skill set and looks a bit different. 

“As long as you embrace your own gladiator and have a ball doing it, the sky is the limit for you.

"I’ve been with the Youth Sport Trust for over 10 years now, supporting and promoting youth sport activity.

"One thing I always love is the being able to impact others whilst also learning about how other people’s lives have been impacted by sport and activity and being reminded of that feeling. 

"I love to be a part of that journey during National School Sports Week and helping play sports a life skill for everyone."

This year, National School Sports Week, powered by Sports Direct’s Monster Kickabout is themed around ‘putting all into football,’ through 60 minutes a day of PE, sport, and play, with the intention of driving up awareness of the Chief Medical Officer’s’ recommendation that children should be active for a minimum of 60 minutes a day to stay happy and healthy.

Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver was there to kick off the week and noted the importance of the campaign in getting young people active off the back of some harrowing statistics.

"We know that less than half of children nationally get their active minutes every day and that really isn’t good enough," she said.

"Those active minutes are vital for a child’s growth and development and it’s a really worry for us.

"The Youth Sport Trust hope to support schools and education set ups in creating active learning environments to make children happier and healthier.

"Whether that’s active travel or active playgrounds, physical activity is no longer just for children with high level of ability, it’s for everybody."

National School Sports Week is an annual campaign, launched originally in 2008 and run by national children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust, to champion the role of PE, physical activity, and school sport in allowing all pupils to reach their full potential.