Barnet Copthall swimmer Maddie Tichborne was amongst a talented group of young London swimmers who were invited to enjoy an inspirational visit to the London 2012 Aquatics Centre in the company of Olympic medalist Stephen Parry.

The 14-year-old St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School pupil will represent her home borough at this year’s London Youth Games in the swimming finals at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on July 3. Last year she won 1500m freestyle gold at the British age group championships. She is also the London junior record holder for 1500m freestyle.

Maddie said: “It was amazing to see the Olympic Park, especially the Aquatics Centre being built. It has inspired me to work even harder, so one day I will have the chance to represent Great Britain at the Olympics.”

Stephen Parry, who won 200m butterfly bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympic behind legendary American Michael Phelps, was inspired by what he saw. He said: “In the last few years, I have not missed swimming, but coming to see the London 2012 Aquatics Centre has made me excited and almost makes me want to put my trunks back on!

“We want our kids to be inspired by 2012 – that is what the bid was won on. By coming down here and seeing the Aquatics Centre, the London Youth Games swimmers will go away motivated about their sport and inspired about what is going to take place here in two years time.

“Events like the London Youth Games are the bedrock of sport in this country. We want our kids to be experiencing competitive sport at grassroots. When I was their age I was doing the Liverpool Youth Games, which is a similar multi-sport competition, but obviously not as prestigious. These kids are just starting out on exactly the same pathway that I have been through, which – for me - resulted in an Olympic medal.” The London Youth Games is Europe’s largest annual youth sports event. In 2009, around 47,000 children from all 33 London boroughs took part in 30 sports.