Giralang goes gold as Olympians visit local kids

It's apt that the word 'giralang' means 'star', as hundreds of school children at Giralang Primary School had stars in their eyes this week when 12 Olympians visited an assembly on Monday.

The dozen athletes included a number of medal winners, as well as one Lauren Wells who works at the school as a Learning Support Assistant. Lauren, who made it to the semi-finals in the 400m hurdles, was the crowd favourite, and had only just returned to her job that morning, according to the Canberra Times.

Other favourites included; Jared Tallent, a former local in the suburb and Olympic gold medallist, and Cate and Bronte Campbell, the dynamic swimming sisters who helped bring home a gold medal from the 4×100 freestyle relay.

When speaking with the Times on Tuesday, Cate talked about what their visits meant to the community and to the children.

"It reminds you that you can inspire the next generation, maybe not to be an Olympian but be whatever they dream of being," she said.

The rest of the city will have a chance to see their favourite sports stars during the Canberra reception at the end of September.

The 12 Olympians were just a small portion of the 422-strong team of athletes who competed in Rio in September. Together, they brought home a total of 29 medals (eight of which were gold) and made Australia proud in 10th place in the rankings worldwide. These games every four years serve as a wonderful inspiration for the country's children.

Sports facilities in and around Giralang

Giralang Primary School boasts an active health and physical education programme throughout the year, but it's not the only local spot where kids and their parents can get active and follow in the footsteps of the country's top sports people.

For example, Belconnen is where you can find the Canberra International Sports & Aquatic Centre, which is one of the biggest health and leisure facilities in the country. This suburb is also home to Basketball ACT, and is just down the road from the Big Splash Waterpark.

Easily accessible sports facilities are a great way to add health and fitness to your family's day-to-day life, which is why living in an suburb such as Giralang or Belconnen can be a real bonus for an active lifestyle.

A dozen Olympic athletes visited Giralang Primary School this week.