A DOUBLE Olympic champion returned to the North-East to mark the final day of her education partnership with a college.

Dame Kelly Holmes paid a visit to Gateshead College’s Academy for Sport last week.

Last year the college formed an exclusive partnership with Kelly Holmes Education which allowed students to be coached by some of the world’s leading athletes.

Visitors over the past academic year include Olympic boxing gold medallist Nicola Adams, Olympic bronze medallist hockey player Alex Danson and former World, European and Commonwealth swimming champion, Nick Gillingham.

Dame Kelly Holmes said: "Many of the students have grown as individuals, as well as athletes."

Stephanie Moore, 18, is a student on the programme presently working towards a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Sport. She has already represented Great Britain twice and is currently world champion for the 4x400 INAS World Indoor Championships 2012.

In June she travels to Prague for the 2013 INAS World Athletics Championships following another GB selection. She said: "Before I started the programme I certainly wasn’t as confident as I am now, it’s really changed me as a person and it’s given me a real boost."

The day concluded with celebrations of the programme including input from students and a presentation by Dame Kelly.