BRITAIN’S greatest ever gymnast visited the University of Chester’s Warrington Campus this week to give a free public lecture to staff, students and residents.

Beth Tweddle received an Honorary Doctorate from the university in 2013 and said she enjoyed delivering the talk which focused on life as an elite athlete and its associated personal and professional challenges.

Her speech also included her experiences at the Olympics in Athens, Beijing and London 2012, her joint business venture Total Gymnastics with fellow Olympian, Steve Parry, and her love of working with children.

Guests of all ages said they found Beth’s talk to be deeply 'inspiring, touching and insightful'.

Beth also took the time to meet with students on sports and journalism programmes and to answer some of their questions as well as posing for photographs.

Beth said that she is hoping to expand Total Gymnastics, which provides gymnastics classes in partnership with local schools and leisure centres in the north west of England, to cover more of the United Kingdom, giving more children the opportunity to train with specialist and experienced coaches.

Professor Annette McIntosh-Scott, Provost of the Warrington Campus, said: “Beth’s talk was a real inspiration to all who attended and we’re delighted she was able to take time out of her busy schedule to visit the Warrington Campus and deliver the first in a series of public lectures.”

For more visit totalgymnastics.co.uk.