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Humour is an essential element of elite performance. It provides a natural release from the pressures of a demanding schedule and plays a crucial role in navigating the ups and downs of the competitive world of athletics, business, or even school.

Elite performers transform strategy into execution to achieve their desired outcomes. In this blog, I’ll share personal insights about my journey toward earning that Great Britain jersey and my dreams of gold.

Having the Shanghai Dutch School within BISS is a unique part of our international community. But what is learning like there? We ask the Head of Dutch School, Marloes Manni, five questions to understand how different the classes are from the rest of the school.

The moment I felt my hamstring pull, I knew I had pushed myself too far. The Sydney Olympics represented years of preparation and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve my goals. In just one training session, my dreams were shattered. Little did I know, this marked the beginning of my long journey back to fitness, ultimately leading to my Olympic gold four years later in Athens.

As an elite athlete, I was meticulous about nutrition, recovery, and maintaining the right balance to achieve peak energy levels during competitions. I discovered that my energy was influenced not only by my diet but also by the people I surrounded myself with. Positive energy from like-minded individuals amplified our collective drive.

There’s no crystal ball for decision-making. At various points in life—whether you’re a student choosing courses, a professional considering a career move, or facing a personal crossroads—difficult choices arise. This was my reality as I approached the end of my athletic career, forcing me to confront the inevitable.

The British International School Shanghai, Puxi is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its 2025 IGCSE cohort. This year’s students have once again demonstrated exceptional academic performance, achieving results that significantly exceed UK national averages.

Over 20 years of competing against the best in athletics, I was always striving to improve. In just over 10 seconds, I needed to explode into action, be aggressive yet in control, and push myself to my limits while remaining completely relaxed. There’s no time to think; everything must happen at a subconscious level, executed with supreme control and confidence. So, how do we express and build true confidence?

As a junior athlete beginning my journey in athletics, I was part of a group of young British athletes with the potential to transition from under-20 junior ranks to senior competition. As a young sprinter, I faced a particularly challenging progression through age groups. The U23 category was in its infancy, lacking established competition. Many athletes, including myself, attempted to leap directly from junior to senior categories.

The British International School Shanghai, Puxi (BISS Puxi) has been awarded the Nord Anglia Education Social Impact Bronze Certificate, a significant accolade that recognises the school’s deep commitment to embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into its core ethos and daily practice.

We're very proud to announce that BISS has successfully renewed its accreditation with the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). On top of this, BISS has been awarded 'Beacon Status'.

As a professional athlete, I was fortunate to have access to exceptional coaches who mentored and challenged me to reach my full potential. The gold medal we won at the 2004 Olympics is a testament to the collective effort of many individuals who supported me through difficult times and encouraged me to push my limits.

The British International School Shanghai, Puxi (BISS), is proud to continue investing in world-class facilities that support students’ physical development, creativity and overall wellbeing. The school is delighted to announce some major upgrades to its campus that will significantly enhance both sporting and performing arts provision across Primary and Secondary.

BISS was delighted to welcome England and Liverpool football legend, Emile Heskey, to the school. Inviting students for a unique football camp experience, the event was organised as a collaboration between Nord Anglia Education, Liverpool FC and its sponsors, Standard Chartered Bank.

The time had come for our BISS student athletes to showcase their talents in the 2025 Primary FOBISIA Friendly Games. Flagbearers, William Eagle Wang and Lucy Coffin, led us into the stadium under the scorching 34-degree weather with high humidity. Day 1 commenced with athletics and swimming.

BISS film students receive this unique opportunity with the top film producer after winning the Nord Anglia Global Campus Film Festival Competition. This competition involved 960 students from 22 Nord Anglia schools worldwide.

Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference (NLC) - an experience that challenged, inspired and rewarded me in unforgettable ways. From the Shanghai Regional Round to the Chengdu National Round, and finally, just a week ago, the Orlando Global Round, our BPA journey over the past six months has been unlike anything we’ve ever experienced.

In a world where art often serves as a mirror to society's most pressing issues, Julia, a remarkable Year 12 Visual Art student, has taken a bold step to shine a light on a cause close to her heart. Her latest exhibition, titled To See the Unseen, was on display this weekend at the vibrant M50 art district, showcasing her captivating paintings alongside the work of a group of talented artists

On Saturday 9 May, students from our three Nord Anglia schools in Shanghai - NAIS Pudong, BISS Puxi and NACIS - came together for a one-day STEAM Bootcamp, hosted at BISS Puxi. It was a brilliant opportunity for students in Years 7–9 to connect across campuses, take on hands-on challenges, and apply their creativity and problem-solving skills in exciting, real-world contexts.

AI is revolutionising education. And at BISS Puxi, we’re embracing the benefits. Used effectively, educational AI tools can create immersive, innovative, and truly personalised learning experiences for our students. They can also streamline administrative processes, freeing our outstanding teachers to focus on what really matters – inspiring creativity and critical thinking in our classrooms.