Olympian Sally Gunnell to open Telford school
Olympic gold medal winning star Sally Gunnell will officially open a school in Telford.
Gunnell, who claimed gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Games, will cut the ribbon when Phoenix Academy in Dawley is officially opened on Friday.
She remains the only female British athlete to have won Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth titles and is so far the only female 400m hurdler to have won the Olympic and world titles and broken the world record.
The new school opened its doors to pupils last year and caters for more than 600 pupils. It is also the new home of Dawley library, a fully-equipped theatre, dance studio, community gym and a sports hall so big it will host regional netball tournaments.
A sports and leisure facility also opened as part of a £16 million development.
Outside, the school has a national standard BMX track, sports courts and a 3G pitch.
The former Phoenix School on Manor Road closed at the end of the 2013 summer term and pupils stepped foot in the new building for the first time in September last year.
