FORMER athlete Kriss Akabussi used his experiences at the top of the sports world to motivate youngsters heading for further education and work.

He spoke to more than 300 pupils in Chatham about the challenges that lie ahead of them after leaving school.

His message to them was that victory could only be accomplished by risking failure. Kriss won gold medals at the European championships in 1990 and with the 400m relay team at the world championships in Tokyo in 1991.

He said: "Athletes are aware that by challenging for victories we risk defeat. I am a successful athlete and yet have had far more defeats than I have had victories." He said American president Theodore Roosevelt had urged people to enter the arena whether they won or lost.

Kriss grew up in a children's home where he said many people kept referring to him as "poor". At school, he had not succeeded academically and he said his teachers had not encouraged him, even his PE teacher.

It was only when he joined the army as a trainee data telegraphist in 1975 and then the Army Physical Training Corps in 1981 that he began to feel successful.

Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council's portfolio holder for regeneration and renewal, arranged for Kriss to come to attendthe event at The Brook theatre. She said: "It is all about motivation. We saw Kriss speak at another event and he was brilliant, really powerful."