Olympic 200m silver medallist Darren Campbell dropped in on Dorothy Stringer School yesterday and revealed the visit was as important as his quest for gold in Athens next year.

Campbell, smiling and relaxed, conducted a question and answer session with a small group of 14-year-old pupils as part of a Norwich Union-backed campaign, Do The Right Thing, to help more children enjoy sport and exercise.

The 29-year-old told The Argus: "You get to a stage in your career where coming to a school and talk to the children is an important thing. It becomes as big a priority as my dream to win an Olympic gold.

"I've had a great time as an athlete with some great memories, with medals from every major championships, and I want to put something back.

"I hope I helped inspire the children at Dorothy Stringer. They are the future. I told them to follow their dreams and always believe in themselves. I was once like them in the classroom and I followed some big dreams.

"I wanted to encourage them to get more involved with sport.

"It might look stressful if you are in an Olympic final but it is crucial to relax and enjoy yourself whatever level you reach. Sport should be fun at the top and bottom and it keeps you healthy.

"I've been inspired by Carl Lewis and Linford Christie and now by the children I met at Dorothy Stringer. They have given me an extra bit of motivation with some great questions and their response to my answers. I now want to make them proud of me every time I race."

The children asked Campbell about his favourite athletics moment (carrying the English flag at the Commonwealth Games in his home town Manchester last year), diet, training regime, training partners ("Maurice Greene isn't arrogant"), worst injury (right quad), background (single-parent family) and where he sees himself in ten years ("living a normal life, maybe as a coach").

After the session, he signed autographs and chatted with about 100 youngsters at the Brighton and Hove school.

Carlo Missirian, PE co-ordinator at Dorothy Stringer, said: "Darren was awesome. He mentioned the D word - Dream. I believe those children have received some special motivation. They loved it."