ATHLETICS coaches at the King s School first spotted Goldie Sayers talent - so the 24-year-old was an obvious choice to open a new fitness suite at the region s oldest independent school. Sayers, a finalist in the woman s javelin at this year s European

ATHLETICS coaches at the King's School first spotted Goldie Sayers' talent - so the 24-year-old was an obvious choice to open a new fitness suite at the region's oldest independent school.

Sayers, a finalist in the woman's javelin at this year's European Championships in Gothenburg, the 2005 World Athletics Championships and the youngest member of the UK track and field team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, cut a ribbon to formally open the facility which has been created on the first floor of the school's sports hall.

She was introduced by school's headteacher Sue Freestone, who also welcomed the mayor of Ely, Cllr John Ison and other members of the mayor's Olympic committee.

Miss Sayers said at the opening: "Fitness and sport are such key elements of education and it is a scientifically proven fact that exercise and fitness increase brain capacity, so I am delighted that King's governors are continuing to invest in sport in this way."

The state-of-the-art equipment has been supplied by Queen Adelaide-based Life Fitness UK Ltd, who UK sales manager Murray Rudkin and East Anglian sales manager Stephen Tait looked on as Sayers tried out one of the rowing machines and discussed training programmes with 17-year-old sixth former Oliver Bradbury, a top UK junior prospect whose ambition is to compete in the London Olympics in 2012.

Bradbury said: "The fitness equipment is top of the range and we're very grateful for it.