AN Olympic cycling medallist has praised a Bury school for helping steer youngsters into the sport.

Steven Burke has welcomed the decision made by Broad Oak - which has specialist sports status - to introduce cycling to its PE curriculum, saying it will give students a head-start he wished he’d had as a youngster.

The 20-year-old sportsman, who took bronze in the men’s pursuit in Beijing, was speaking as he presented the Hazel Avenue school with a cycling top signed by all 14 of Team GB’s 2008 Olympic medallists.

Broad Oak has invested £2,500 in 25 bikes for students who are being taught by assistant head of upper school, Lisa Parker, a qualified cycling coach.

This move follows a surge in interest in the sport after British cyclists secured a record medals haul of eight gold, four silvers and two bronzes Steven said: “It’s fantastic what Broad Oak is doing in giving their students access to decent bikes and proper tuition. I just wish I had been given the opportunity to take cycling as part of my PE course when I was at school.”

He added: “With this level of support, Broad Oak students will certainly have a head-start on me!”

Lisa Parker said that the school decided to introduce cycling to the curriculum because so many students and young people are showing an interest in the sport, with successful riders like Steven acting as great role models.

She continued: “We will be displaying the signed top in school to remind everyone what can be achieved with the right equipment, coaching and dedication. Our students can really identify with Steven who, despite only a few years older than them, has already won no fewer than seven gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic, world and European competitions.

“Who knows, maybe with the support we can now give a Broad Oak student will follow in his footsteps, or perhaps slipstream, and ride for their country.”