Page 14 - Millfield 20 Stories

No. 6
THE GOLD MEDAL

“I was on my knees. I could
not believe the emotions
that came over me.”

At 12.43pm, on the 2nd August 2012,
Peter Wilson took aim and fired. As his
final two clays exploded, he sank to the
ground: an Olympic gold medallist at the
London Games. It was the culmination
of a journey that began in the fields
around Millfield.
“The school’s philosophy played a huge
part in creating – and nurturing – that
winning mentality,” said Wilson. “You’re
given so many opportunities in all kinds
of sports. I was no good at rugby or
tiddlywinks, but as soon as I started to
shoot, I knew I’d found something I love.”
It’s this mindset, as much as the
outstanding facilities and world-class
coaching, that’s helped Millfield’s pupils
achieve decades of Olympic success. In
2012, rower Helen Glover, another Old
Millfieldian, won gold. And before 2012,
nine other former pupils had won medals.
If Millfield was a country, we’d have
ranked above Canada and Sweden in
the London 2012 medals table.