CHILDREN were glued to their television screens to watch one of their teaching assistants narrowly miss out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Kevin Sempers, 24, was competing in the decathlon, and was sitting in bronze medal position until the final event, the 1,500m, after which he fell to fourth place and eventually finished fifth.
Mr Sempers works 30 hours a week as a support worker at Uxbridge High School, in The Greenway, Uxbridge, and trains just around the corner at Brunel University, in Kingston Lane, from where he graduated.
His events took place in Delhi last Thursday and Friday. The television coverage was shown on screens during break times and lunchtimes so that pupils could follow his progress.
They had been keeping in touch with Mr Sempers via email, and he let them know his preparations had gone well and that he had been training hard.
This week, the school said Mr Sempers was disappointed not to bring home a medal, even though fourth was beyond his original expectations. He now hopes to be selected for the British team for the 2012 Olympics.
