OLYMPIC medal winner Sally Conway has visited schools in Thornbury and Alveston over the past two days to speak about her triumph in Rio.

The 29-year-old judo star, a former Marlwood student, returned to the school where she first found the sport, speaking passionately to students about her career, and what it was like to take part in two Olympic Games.

“It seems so strange to be back here,” she said. “But at the same time, it feels like I have never left. Nothing has changed at all!”

“It is great when you see so many faces looking back at you. Even if only one person were to take something away with them, I think it is definitely worth doing.”

The tour of schools, ahead of turning on Thornbury’s Christmas lights this evening at the Victorian Fair, has seen Sally visit St Helen’s in Alveston, as well as Castle School, Gillingstool and Christ the King, finishing with Marlwood this afternoon.

“It has been tiring but talking in front of people is not my forte so the practice is great, and all the kids have been so excited which is really nice to see. Everyone has wanted a picture or to hold the medal afterwards, so I can’t have been that bad.

“A lot of them had seen me on TV, whether at the Olympics or in the coverage afterwards, so I think several of them enjoyed the chance to ask me questions.

Some of the questions they have put to me have been really surprising and amazing. I have been asked what I would say to someone to inspire them, and whether there I have been times when I felt like giving up, and what I did to fix that.

“Then there have been some crazy ones like asking me who I thought was going to win X-Factor.”

Having been back training for the past four weeks, Sally said that she planned to fight less this year, but had the World Championships in August firmly in her sights.

“Getting the medal in Rio has really given me a boost in confidence and shown me that it is possible, that I can go out and beat the world’s best on my day.

“The plan is to maintain that, keep learning and get stronger.”

Sally will be switching on Thornbury’s Christmas lights at 7pm this evening in the High Street.