"Bring some medals back home!" says iconic Sheffield fundraiser in message to TeamGB at Paris Olympics
The legendary Sheffield fundraiser, John Burkhill, has been out in Sheffield city centre with his 2012 Olympic torch ahead of the 2024 Games in Paris.
He spoke to The Star's Harry Harrison and had a roaring message for TeamGB athletes.
He spoke to The Star's Harry Harrison and had a roaring message for TeamGB athletes.
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00:00John, how are you? I'm fine, no problem. Awesome. How is fundraising going these days now that you've hit a million?
00:06It's going brilliant. I mean, we're coming up to 1.2 million now, so it's absolutely fantastic.
00:15Congratulations. And how is it seeing all these people on the streets now they have hit that million, are they just as generous?
00:23It's brilliant. I mean, the people, I never ask for money. People can afford it, they'll put it in their pocket.
00:29And every penny counts, but I'd never dream of asking for money. It's up to them. If they can afford it, they will do.
00:37People in Sheffield are like that. Brilliant. Fantastic. And obviously you're out today with the Olympic torch as you've got in your hands,
00:45saying hello to lots of kids and parents and families out in Sheffield ahead of the Olympics starting this weekend.
00:50Are you excited for that? Yes, I think it'll be brilliant. And I just hope that we can bring a few medals home.
00:58I mean, all them athletes out there will be trying so hard to bring some home for us. Yeah, let's see if we can do it.
01:06And what are your favourite kind of Olympic events, John?
01:10One enough, I love to watch the race walk. I mean, I used to be a race walker myself, so that's one of my favourite ones.
01:17But any distance events, they're all athletes and they're all brilliant in what they do and they've got this.
01:26So I wish them all the really best. I really do.
01:29Well, following on from that, is there anything that you wanted to say to the Olympic athlete Team GB as they head to Paris?
01:36Come on, bring some medals back home because we need it. Sheffield needs it. Everybody in England needs it.
01:46Come on, show them what you can do. Thank you, John. Thank you.