Team GB and World and Double Commonwealth Games champion heptathlete, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Paralympics GB Table Tennis bronze medal winner, Jack Hunter-Spivey have been in Liverpool surprising primary school children. They've been at the unveiling of a mural of Katarina and Jack, created by local artist Paul Curtis.
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00:00 Team GB and World and Double Commonwealth Games champion heptathlete
00:06 Katerina Johnson-Thompson and Paralympics GB table tennis bronze medal
00:11 winner Jack Hunter-Spyvie have been in Liverpool surprising primary school
00:17 children. They've been at the unveiling of a mural of Katerina and Jack created
00:22 by local artist Paul Curtis. It's actually incredible to see that my face
00:28 painted on the side of a building it's a real pinch yourself moment for me to be
00:32 involved in this and have someone justify my career in the way it is now
00:37 it's a yeah it's absolutely amazing to be involved and just to inspire the next
00:40 generation is is what we want to do as athletes and try and find the next
00:43 people to be in line not just for Olympics, Paralympics but for other
00:46 people to achieve their dreams and just to be here today getting all the good
00:50 questions off the kids and meeting them was yeah it was amazing. It took Paul
00:54 seven days to create the massive piece of art this is the latest commission for
00:59 the street artist who is best known for his live a bird wings on Jamaica Street
01:03 since creating that in 2017 Paul has produced more than 200 public pieces
01:10 largely in Liverpool and Wirral but also in locations across the UK. It's always
01:16 nice to be asked to do the work in and around Liverpool because you know you
01:21 like to be part of the city when you do this type of work and it's a nice
01:24 feeling and you know to represent these two athletes who have achieved so much
01:30 that's an honor as well yeah. The huge mural is in the playground of Cat's
01:35 former primary school St. Mark's in Hale Ward. I spoke to her and she seems happy
01:40 with it Jack likes his pictures as well and it must be an honor you are it's
01:47 always nice to be recognized by the places you come from by the people who
01:51 knew you before before she's gone on to all the success and so I hope she's
01:57 happy with it. Well I actually grew up not far from here and I suppose the main
02:02 pressure is obviously that the people who you're painting that they like it
02:06 and both of them do I think so that's that's a little bit of pressure off me I
02:11 am a big sports fan as well so I love doing this kind of work yeah. The mural
02:16 is to inspire children to harness their positive energy to make an impact on
02:21 themselves and their community. The mural was created to launch a free schools
02:27 program Get Set for Positive Energy which via Team GP and Paralympics GP
02:34 hopes to empower young people and their communities in the role they can play in
02:39 saving energy for a greener future. Just coming off the back of the European
02:44 Championships I got a silver medal so just yeah just looking back on that and
02:48 I'm in a good position now for qualifying for Paris so train as hard as
02:51 I can possibly and then go to the tournaments next year and maybe in
02:55 Brazil or America to start in next year and then hopefully fingers crossed
02:58 selection for the Paralympics and bring back another medal.