AN OLYMPIC silver medallist praised the sports stars of the future at Oxford Academy’s Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony.

Rower Katherine Grainger, who won silver at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing games, spoke to the young athletes about her rise to success and her hopes of winning gold at London 2012.

She told the Oxford Mail: “It was a delight to be invited and really important to enjoy recognising sporting achievement at whatever level. I congratulate all of the winners.”

Chad Woollands, 16, from Wood Farm, who plays midfield in the academy’s under-19 football team as well as playing rugby and tennis, won the overall Sports Personality of the Year award.

He said: “To be recognised in my final year at Oxford Academy was great.

“I have always wanted to do sport and have always loved doing it. I have played from a young age, and I have trained and trained to get better.”

As one of the school’s sports leaders, Chad has also been involved in a programme sending Oxford Academy students to nearby primary schools, including John Henry Newman in Littlemore and Orchard Meadow in Blackbird Leys, to do sports coaching with younger children.

Year 13 students Mark Thomas and Jordan Daniel won the Sports Community Leadership Award for their part in the project.

Next year, Chad is heading to the Oxford United Football Academy for a two-year programme combining playing, coaching and academic studies. He has been recognised by the FA as part of its Football Futures leadership programme, and was hailed as an inspiration to younger students at Oxford Academy.

He said: “If I could get into football in any way, playing as a career, it would be great.”

Abingdon Town semi-professional footballer Jordan Marsh won the Marshall Haynes shield for achievement, named in honour of the Peers School pupil who was among three 13-year-olds killed in a horrific crash on the Eastern Bypass in 2005.

And Year Seven pupil Wezley Bone, from Cutteslowe, was named the school’s most improved sportsman.

The boxer, who trains with Blackbird Leys ABC, said: “I have learned to control my aggression, and put it into sport, thanks to the teachers who have been helping me. I have put more into it to make myself better.”

The 12-year-old, who also plays football, rugby, cricket and rounders, added: “Winning the award was a great experience and it was an amazing privilege to meet Katherine Grainger.”

One of the school’s science teachers, Caroline O’Connor, is set to appear at next year’s London Olympics as a cox for the women’s eights rowing team.

Academy vice principal Chris Davies said: “We have said from day one that sport is a powerful enabling force in our school, able to inspire and motivate those students who may find motivation difficult.”