BRITAIN’S most successful female rower has inspired some of Oxford’s most promising athletes.

Olympic Gold and three-time Silver medallist Katherine Grainger CBE presented prizes at Oxford Academy’s annual Sports Personality Awards.

Sports Personality of the Year Award went to 16-year-old footballer Ellie Massingham.

The Year 11 central defender said: “Sport has made me more confident as a person. When I am taking part I feel I can be myself. It was really exciting and such a privilege to meet an Olympic Gold medallist.”

She was chosen for her outstanding contribution in sports as well as her hard work and achievement academically.

The Marshall Haynes Memorial Plate, which remembers a student who lost his life in a car accident in 2005, was awarded to Kyran Anthony who was Electric Boogie World Dance Champion in 2011 and featured in Alesha Dixon’s street crew, making it to the live shows of “Got to dance”.

He came 4th at the world championships in Germany, and was the under-16 UK champion and competed in the UK adults championships at the age of 15.

Executive Principal David Brown said: “Having Katherine here as our role model, proves that academic and sporting success are a winning combination.”