Gladiators star Steel has a winning message for Derbyshire pupils
“There are 16 Gladiators and we are all different, but there is one thing that we all have in common – being happy and confident in ourselves.
BBC Gladiators star Steel, aka Zack George, swapped the arena for the classroom when he visited a Derby primary school to inspire pupils to lead healthier, happier and more confident lives.
The former UK’s fittest man, has launched his initiative ‘Zacktiv’ in a personal bid to encourage school children to put down their smartphones and adopt a more positive outlook on life through exercise.
He told the students at Arboretum Primary School, in Normanton – part of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust(DDAT): “Everything is achievable. You can be anything you want to.
“There are 16 Gladiators and we are all different, but there is one thing that we all have in common – being happy and confident in ourselves.
“We don’t compare ourselves to each other, we stay focused on achieving our own goals.”
He delivered a workshop to the entire school – where he talked about his personal journey from being overweight as a child to becoming a Gladiator after watching the series as a youngster.
He then visited each classroom, answering pupils’ questions, posing for photographs and handing out branded stickers and signed water bottles.
Year six student, Faizaan, said: “I absolutely love Gladiators – and so does my family - we always watch it. I can’t believe I got to meet one of them today.
“The best bit was when we cheered him on to do a walking handstand for us. He did it for ages and said he can do it for even longer.
“He asked us all to write down a glimmer for him — a small positive moment, thought, memory or achievement from our day. He said he would take them home and read them with his family as his own glimmer, which made me feel really special knowing that our glimmers would become part of his family’s glimmer too. Mine was meeting him.
“I am definitely going to be drinking more water, moving more, trying to stay confident and eating a more balanced diet so I can achieve my goals like him.”
Zack’s experiences growing up are now helping him inspire a new generation of children to feel happier, healthier and more confident in themselves.
Through Zactiv, he visits primary and secondary schools to talk to pupils about everything from exercise and nutrition to confidence, self-belief and developing a positive relationship with food.
It’s a subject that is particularly close to Zack’s heart. As a child, he struggled with his weight and, by the age of six, was severely overweight. His confidence suffered as a result and he found himself struggling with his body image and binge eating.
Headteacher Helen Phillips said: “It was wonderful to welcome Zack to Arboretum and the children were incredibly excited to meet him.
“What made the visit particularly valuable was the message behind it. Zack spoke to the children in a way they could really relate to and showed them that being healthy isn’t just about exercise – it’s about looking after your mind, believing in yourself and making positive choices too.
“The children came away with practical techniques for building their confidence, staying calm and developing a positive mindset, and I know Zack’s words will stay with many of them for a long time.”
Zack taught the children techniques to build confidence, ways to stay calm, and strategies for maintaining a positive mindset.
Dr Sarah Clark, CEO of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust, said: “Zack’s story carries such a positive message about confidence, wellbeing and believing in yourself.
“We’re delighted that pupils at Arboretum had the opportunity to hear his story and learn from his experiences.”