Episode 2 Inspire: The Olympic Journey

'East London - just a stone's throw from the Olympic Park.

'I'm here to witness real legacy in action -

'to see an example of what hundreds of people across the country

'are doing to help others enjoy sport.

'Heroes in my book, and often - too often -

'the unsung heroes.

'Sometimes you have to reach out

Welcome to Hackney Marshes. I've come to take a look

at a project which is all about getting involved in sport.

It's about giving them an opportunity,

an outlet. Who knows, there could be a young person out there,

a future champion, who's on the road to glory. Hey! Good!

Welcome to Inspire: The Olympic Journey.

Also coming up today...

Olympic rowing gold medallist Katherine Grainger

travels to the Swiss Alps

to discover the secrets of Britain's triathlon success.

Winter Olympic medal prospect James Woods

takes Helen Skelton back to where it all began -

his home town of Sheffield.

Matthew Pinsent meets Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng,

to hear his incredible rise from rags to riches.

And we want to inspire you through the stories we tell.

Sports projects are being run all over the country,

but this one at Hackney Marshes - it's a little bit different.

Come on! Come on, come on...!

So, I'm with Sab, who is the founder of Salaam Peace,

responsible for all of this and a whole lot more.

Tell me about the philosophy behind it.

Sport's always been

a great way of bringing people together. For me,

Salaam Peace came about

on the back of 9/11 and 7/7, originally

to show how sport can show a positive image, not of Muslim,

but the community as a whole. And also we had events,

where we bring the Police, the Army, the community all together

to break barriers. And sport was a great tool,

and continues to be a great tool.

Come left. Left. Come this way. This way!

My passion was always around having an impact on my local community -

whether it was developing young people,

bringing them into future leadership,

or just having a positive impact

on what's going on in my local neighbourhood.

And using sport - and multi-sport as well -

who works hard to help others enjoy sport,

you can put them forward for BBC Sport's Unsung Hero Award.

The overall winner will join us

at this year's Sports Personality of the Year Show, in December.

To find out more, and to nominate your Unsung Hero,

go to...

To me, this project draws on everything

that is good about sport - unity, teamwork, strong work ethic,

all things you need in top-level professional sport,

as Katherine Grainger knows only too well.

After 16 years of working with GB Rowing,

the Olympic champion now wants to learn from others,

to see how they operate,

and to discover the secret of their success.

So, Katherine travelled to San Moritz,

to spend time with the British Triathlon Team

at their altitude training base in the Swiss Alps.

And now, yeah, we know all the routes,

we have someone cooking for us,

we have numerous coaches and physios here, and all that kind of thing,

so it's changed a lot over those four years!

Ready, guys? Two, three, four,

five...

What is the key purpose of this camp?

Erm, this block now is up here - you know, we're at altitude,

so they're trying to get, obviously, some physiological

benefit from training at altitude for the four-and-a-half weeks.

It's also a good time to get away from everything in the middle of...

in the middle of the season, when things are getting a bit crazy,

and just focus purely on training.

What's the hardest sessions you'll do here?

The hardest session is probably a track session,

because it's short and intense. The maximum effort you might do

might be two-and-a-half minutes, but you'll do that

five or six times, and it will be very hard when you do do it.

Because we're at altitude, when you're finished

it's hard to breathe afterwards.

quite as fast, so you're more out of breath, and...

Yeah, once you come to terms with that, then, just get on with it.

That looks hard!

It's great seeing them back training.

It's so exciting being back at the track,

seeing professionals at work. I do miss it -

not that I could do that!

I was reading something you'd said before, which I really liked -

that endurance sport is essentially just a form of punishment.

It is, isn't it? You know, like, it's just...

Why would you do it? Why would you go out for hours on end?

But, erm, no, you love it really, you know.

And I think it takes a sort of...

a certain person and a certain mind-set to do it, but, er,

yeah, it's hard work, but it's good fun. I get to come here, so...!

We didn't see you on the track

because you were getting physio instead. How is the injury going?

Yeah, all right. I think this year

is just a nightmare year for me, really.

I'm resigned to the fact that every time

it's nice to have someone there with you, pushing you along

and going through the same thing with you. Well done, Jon boy!

'It struck me, even after a lung-bursting track session

'at altitude, how much the athletes seemed to thrive

'off the hard graft of training.

'There's a genuine love of what they do within this team.

'And away from the track, I could sense a harmonious vibe,

'real camaraderie - something you don't always find

'at a professional level.

'These guys certainly work well, and play well together.'

'Just 12 hours after the track session,

'the triathletes are up well before most people in St Moritz

'to make their way to the pool.

'This, the beginning of another hard day of training.'

Right, then, guys, OK...

So for the main sets, we'll do four 50s descending first of all...

my nickname was Nemo, so living up to it now!

Ready, and go!

It's pretty much nonstop in the pool.

It's a brutal start to the morning in some ways.

Nice, gentle first few laps, but now they've got going,

it's absolutely nonstop and against the clock -

the coach constantly monitoring their speed, constant feedback,

constant adjustments, so they know how fast they're going.

And they're going to do this for another hour or so.

Alistair and Jonny -

they set the tone.

They set the example. Erm, and others

see how hard they have to work, and either buy into that, or don't.

And by far the majority do buy into that.

It's just how they behave, how they conduct themselves...

is a massive influence on other athletes.

We have that ability to push each other on, and that's great,

Alistair definitely does love his training, no doubt about that.

Do you love the training, too? Oh, definitely.

I wouldn't be here if I didn't love the training.

It's not too hard, is it, for you guys?

What is it that makes you as good as you are? People always say,

"It's not luck, you've got to work hard."

But there's a massive amount of luck. I was extremely lucky

in the place that I was born, to have the parents to take me swimming

and running, to bump into the coaches, Jack and Malcolm,

to have friends that went out running

and took me cycling all over the Dales -

extremely luck to have Jonathan.

Not everyone is willing to go through the amount of training you do,

and the hard graft, I guess, and the highs and lows that...

elite sport is.

Absolutely. I think I'm lucky that I enjoy the training as well, though!

It's all luck, it's all luck!

I loved Alistair's modesty. He genuinely feels fortunate.

But it's of his own making.

and training is infectious.

They inspire the entire team.

It's been an amazing couple of days following the triathlon team

and what shines through is two main things -

just how much commitment and work has gone into every single day

they spend here, but also how much enjoyment there is.

Everyone here loves their work,

loves being part of this special team

and that combination is a sure-fire success.

Whoa! Good running, guys. Good running, guys. Hop on one leg.

The London Triathlon is also a mass participation event

with about 5,000 competitors taking part.

Well, there is no shortage of participants down here

at Hackney Marshes, that's for sure.

Go on. Get it! Get it!

Whatever happens, I'm hitting this.

actually having someone who's come as a participant

100, 200 young people and keeps the flame burning.

Keep going. Keep going.

He recognises kids who can take that responsibility

and how it can change you and how it can give you an added sense of...

almost like your importance and position.

Did you feel like that when he asked you?

I felt that because I think I needed that kind of responsibility

at the time. I think I was going down the wrong path,

living in East London

and having troubles at school with people around me

and things that were going on

and my behaviour wasn't acceptable at the time.

So Sab saw that role model side of me and said, can I go and do this

and I just took it with both hands.

Did the behaviour change then? Oh, yeah. Massively. Massively.

I saw a massive change in myself. I wasn't getting in trouble in school.

I focused on my work and school and I just wanted to play football

to do it yourself, it just comes alive.

Now, fortunately, somehow, I'm going to be a teacher in September.

Teaching 30 kids? Good luck. Yeah, we'll see how it goes.

One go that side. One go this side. Open up. Get wide. Get wing.

If I didn't have Sab and Salaam Peace, I wouldn't be where I am now.

I wouldn't be helping kids with their behaviour, trying to say,

"There's two ways you can go and the way you choose is down to you.

"We can only give you a bit of advice." But using sport as a tool

is a great thing. Run!

Are you going to hit this far?

Wa-hey!

If hearing Dwayne and Erkan's inspiring story has motivated YOU

to get active, then visit our website. Go to...

..to find a sports club near you.

I promise, you don't need to be a budding world champion,

you just need bags of enthusiasm.

the Winter Olympics takes place in Sochi.

And in James Woods, Great Britain has a genuine medal contender.

Helen Skelton went to Sheffield

to visit the world's number one slopestyle skier.

I've always been a bit of a dreaming sort of person.

As far as other people watching me and being inspired by what I do...

I mean, if one person looks at it and says,

"You know what? I am going to go out and get what I want to do,

"I'm going to get out and get that feeling," that's what fires me up.

Just being here is nice.

It's kind of cool not to be in a mountain town for a minute

and just enjoy being back on the streets that I know.

How are you doing, dude? Do you miss Sheffield?

For sure. It's your city.

I'm nothing like anything in Sheffield.

at school. Back in the day, we used to go on the trampoline

He taught me to backflip and things.

I bought a trampoline for my garden.

He'd be always doing tricks and things.

"I'll try that out skiing next time."

I still just see him as Woodsy

rather than the world's number one. It's crazy. Mental.

The question is, can he beat me at table tennis?

Probably. Let's find out.

I feel a little bit under pressure to be quite good at table tennis.

Argh! Shouldn't have said it.

Was it hard to say to your parents, you're in school,

"Actually, I'm not going to do any of that,

"I'm going to go and be a skier"?

I think very initially,

but once they realised what it's all about and they came

to a few competitions and everything, you know, it's natural.

It was obviously what I wanted to do and what I was dying to do so...

Yeah, they were fully on board and it was all organised,

stayed on my fair share of sofas.

because that was skiing from then on.

Every moment of every holiday, he was there all day.

I used to go up from work, I used to take him a sandwich at lunchtime.

So we used to meet up, see what he was going.

It was great. We'd have a nice little chat in the sunshine.

Did you find you were having to explain to your friends

what he was getting into?

We bumped into someone training at the gym the other day.

He was like, "What do you do, James?" "I ski, actually."

"Ah, right. That's good."

And then just started talking about football again.

I wonder whether in a year's time,

he'll be talking to me or talking to James...

You must be phenomenally proud of what he's achieved? Oh, yes.

Bursting with pride because he's achieved a lot

and he's forged the way himself.

He's been so determined.

So, yes, I am proud of him.

So, this, for you, is where it all started with a birthday party

Chokes you up a bit. I'm not just putting it on.

I mean, this was a pretty huge deal, wasn't it?

Thousands of people must have learnt to ski here.

British skiing emanated from here for years

and it WAS where it happened. What's it like seeing it like this?

Yeah. It's heart-wrenching, if I'm completely honest.

Obviously, I'd heard about it, but this is my first time up and...

I don't know. Yeah. Gut-wrenching.

We got some good footage and stuff,

probably stuff I'd rather not show you,

like me just being such a chump,

skiing about here when I was younger.

I can remember him playing hockey for me in the sixth form

and he wore the shirt and then these dreadful shorts

and he got to the ball before the other people and then scored.

So he was one of these...

You could see he was going to make it in something

and if it wasn't skiing, it was going to be something else.

It's just lovely that his talent's been recognised now.

Some familiar faces down here. Yeah.

But you guys are used to hanging out in different continents, aren't you?

Not here in Sheffield.

A lot of people probably don't appreciate what it is you do.

So can you just explain what slopestyle is?

Slopestyle is just a mixture of rails and kickers,

so just like skateboarding.

Then you get marked on difficulty of your tricks.

It's really a cool sport. It's really fun to watch.

Since you two got involved in the sport,

you've done great things for slopestyle in the UK, haven't you?

Can you put into context what it is they've achieved?

I think they've sort of achieved the impossible.

They've taken it to a whole new level,

but they've also showed

Well, you can find out how James gets on in Sochi

because there's full coverage of the Winter Olympics on the BBC.

Next. Big throw. Well done. Ready?

Pass and move, pass and move. Pass and move.

Pass and move.

On the first level, we try and just promote participation

and give everyone an opportunity.

Not only if they're gifted and talented, but if they're keen,

because, as you know yourself from your background in sports,

sometimes it's just getting them there.

Then you might unearth something, it might just give them

some structure to their lives.

Sab's project has been so beneficial for this community,

providing a real outlet for lots of young people.

And without that outlet,

who knows how much unfulfilled talent there is?

Fortunately, one talented youngster didn't slip through the net.

He was discovered, not here on Hackney Marshes,

but on a basketball court in Brixton.

Oh, I love Brixton. I love the people, the vibe.

Brixton is like a microcosm of the world. It's fabulous, it's fun.

It's great, it's a great place.

Luol's just another in a long line of famous

luminaries of Brixton town.

He loves his people, he's not too big for his boots,

so he can come and jam with his people.

It's all good, it's all love.

From South Sudan to South London,

Luol Deng has risen from these

very streets to become one of the world's biggest sports stars,

and he's never forgotten where he came from.

'You have so much pride to tell people you're from Brixton.

'And everywhere you went outside of Brixton,'

'you know, you carry that on your shoulder. You know,

'"I'm from Brixton." I appreciate everything I went through,'

even though it was hard.

I know that... I'm from South Sudan, that's where I was born.

to actually believe that they could, you know... Having a tough life,

you know, doesn't mean that's the end of everything.

You know, you work hard, you could overcome all that.

It's very good to see him,

because in this country, he's the person we look up to

because he started from here and now he's in the NBA

and that's what we strive to achieve.

Because we're in England,

like, you think you can't get far,

but he made it from England to the States and has been in the NBA,

so it shows that you can do the same thing.

I went to Brixton TopCats and trained there

and I wanted to get better

and cos Luol Deng used to play for Brixton, my coach knows him well.

If it wasn't for the Brixton coach, there wouldn't be no Luol Deng.

You're here and then you rip it, OK?

It's not often that you see one of the superstars of the game

shooting some hoops with some South London kids.

to follow the wrong group, to go and be something I'm not supposed to.

One day, my brother took me with him to Brixton,

and I went and played in Brixton. I was about...

11, maybe, when I started.

And I started playing and my coach, Jimmy Rogers, he was just,

like, "You have a chance to be one of the best players to ever

"come out of here if you really want to play."

I got drafted by the Chicago Bulls and I've been with them

for nine years now, going into my tenth season next year.

COMMENTATOR: Oh, Luol Deng. Now Deng from long range.

So the Brixton TopCat became a Chicago Bull

and one of the most valuable players in the whole of the NBA.

But even from those lofty heights, he hasn't forgotten the one person

who set him off on the road to stardom.

Jimmy's huge, Jimmy's a tough coach.

But he was so tough on us that it made everything else easy, you know?

Another coach with me spotted from his work ethic that he had something

special about him, that he was going to be a very, very special player.

Our club philosophy is, "Winning is an attitude."

It's not about winning the game of basketball, it's winning

the game of life, saying no to the negatives and yes to the positives.

And he's embraced all of that, Luol.

What role do you think that sports clubs,

and yours in particular, play in a place like Brixton?

Huge, I mean, it's huge.

I've never done it for the social/keep them off the streets,

but that is a big factor.

And the fact maybe we don't say it - we do it, rather than say it -

is probably the big thing.

The natural thing to do is that, but it isn't. Yeah.

You look over the ball at the basket. Go.

Oh.

No, no, no.

One more shot. One more shot.

Oh!

What's my future like?

and to be able to give all these kids hope.

But we've got to keep on building from here, we've got to try

to make Rio and even do way better and keep going forward from this.

Basketball's not going to happen overnight.

It takes a team effort, it takes everyone being together.

It takes the grass roots being taught right

and that's what the purpose of all these camps are.

I just really believe that me coming back here

and showing how much I appreciate everything I've been through,

it just allows these kids to believe in themselves and be the next one.

From refugee to role model

and President Obama's favourite player,

Luol Deng runs those sports camps, he has his own foundation

and he cares passionately about GB Basketball.

And hopefully in time, we won't just be saying, "Look at him,"

we'll be saying, "Look at all those people that he's inspired."

So much to admire from our champions.

The incredible work ethic of Non Stanford and the Brownlee brothers.

And the passion of James Woods.

For me, the real heroes are those who give up

so much of their time to help others.

People like Jimmy Rogers, Luol Deng's first coach.

And Sab Bham, who runs the project at Hackney Marshes.

Both have touched so many lives with the good they've done.

There's no great financial reward for their efforts.

Instead, something far more valuable - immeasurable pride

and satisfaction.

If you'd like to get involved in sport

then visit our website to find out the nearest club to you.