On Saturday 11 October, St Mary’s Senior School proudly hosted the latest event in our Empowering Girls talk series, welcoming Olympic medallist Victoria Ohuruogu to share her powerful story of resilience, perseverance and success with pupils, families and members of the wider community.
Victoria, one of Britain’s leading 400m sprinters, delivered an inspiring and heartfelt talk that charted her journey from the early days of training with the support from her sister, Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, to her own breakout success on the world stage – including her recent bronze medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the 4x400m relay.
Throughout the event, Victoria spoke candidly about the challenges she has faced, from injury setbacks and self-doubt to the relentless discipline required to compete at the elite level. Her message to pupils was clear, that success doesn’t happen overnight and that setbacks are part of the journey. She highlighted that recognising the value of leaning on support is just as important as believing in yourself. The key message Victoria wanted the audience of girls and their parents to take away was the importance of patience and perseverance.
“Victoria’s Ohuruogu’s talk was incredibly motivating,” said Mrs Nicola Griffiths, Principal. “Her journey exemplifies the values we strive to instil in our pupils – courage, resilience and the confidence to aim high. This was more than a talk; it was a masterclass in empowerment.”
The event also featured a Q&A session, where pupils asked thoughtful questions about overcoming pressure, managing setbacks and tips on how to relax in between her busy training schedule. Victoria then helped to present awards and prizes to the winners and runners-up of the St Mary’s ‘Through Her Eyes’ photography competition. The afternoon concluded with a meet-and-greet session, where many pupils had the opportunity to speak personally with Victoria and take photographs.
The Empowering Girls series continues to bring outstanding women from diverse fields to St Mary’s, offering pupils unique opportunities to learn from those making a difference on the world stage.