Olympic legend opens new gym
OLYMPIC gold medal winner Sally Gunnell cut the red ribbon to open a new £250,000 gym at Bury St Edmunds Leisure centre.
Sally, who is also a World, European and Commonwealth gold medal winner, opened the new fitness centre alongside the Mayor of St Edmundsbury Christopher Spicer.
The refitted gym features 110 pieces of the latest exercise kit including Virtual Active – an exercise machine which simulates running, climbing and hiking in some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.
Sally said: “I think it is brilliant. It is a combination of having the right equipment, having the right facilities and making it accessible for people. It is not a threatening place, people can often be intimidated by gyms.
“Winning an Olympic gold medal you get these opportunities to get involved with things you love.
“Something I am have passionate about is keeping people fit and healthy and that’s about giving them places they can feel comfortable exercising.
“It’s about having things in place for people to come along, have a go and get fitter.”
Sally said she was excited about this summer’s Olympic games in London and that it was great that Bury St Edmunds had a special link to the games.
“It is absolutely brilliant for the town to have the Rwandan Olympic team here.
“People should come down and see them and their training and the work they are doing.
“It is really something for you guys to shout about.
“It shows that it is not just about London and the events taking place in the city, it is about the whole country.
“We have something everyone can look forward to this summer.”
Matt Hickey, fitness manager at Abbeycroft, which runs the centre, said: “Sally is such an inspiration and her athletic achievements mean she is one of the most famous sports personalities of all time.”
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
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