As the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics continues, children participating in the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges have received inspiration from members of the Australian Olympic Team.

Chloe Esposito, a Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge ambassador, will attend her first Olympic Games this year as a key member of the Modern Pentathlon team. She recently visited students at Palmerston Primary School in the suburbs of Canberra to promote the national sporting challenge, which encourages children aged 4 to 14 years to increase their physical activity by trying up to 29 Olympic sports.

Esposito’s sport of Modern Pentathlon requires competitors to perform in four separate events – swimming, fencing, show jumping and a combined running and shooting event. With its origins in ancient Greece, the pentathlon was designed to showcase the skills of the modern soldier. In 1912, it was introduced in its current form with shooting, fencing, swimming and equestrian replacing spear-throwing, jumping, discus and wrestling.

In Sydney 2000, women were invited to compete in the event, which has provided Esposito with the opportunity to make history this year by becoming the first Australian to win an Olympic medal in the sport. While attending the Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge event in Canberra, Chloe reflected on the benefits the sport provided her as a child.

‘I couldn’t imagine my life without sport - I’ve always been involved in it,’ she said. ‘Dad encouraged us to remain active whether it be heading down to the oval or jumping in the pool.’

‘It’s been such a big part of my life and I’ve made so many friends and learnt so many valuable things from it.’

During the Q&A session, students were particularly interested in Esposito’s show jumping and shooting training. She took the opportunity to encourage children to take part in sport and experience the Olympic spirit.

‘The Challenge is a great way for children to be part of the Australian team and to create their own Olympic sporting journey,’ Esposito said. ‘It’s a great way for them to try out different sports and learn new things along the way.’

‘Hopefully by competing in this Challenge they discover some things they never knew about sport and continue participating in a sport they enjoy.’

Esposito is currently wrapping up her Olympic training preparations at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, before departing for London on 24 July.

There is still time to register for the Prime Minister’s Challenges. See the website for more information. http://www.olympicchallengeg.gov.au or http://www.paralympchallenge.gov.au