TWO athletes who have won medals across the world are adorning the walls of their former school, alongside fellow sporting superstars.

Four-time martial arts world champion Brad Robertson and five-time Paralympic Games medallist Maria Lyle are both inspiring current pupils at Dunbar Grammar School.

A series of boards line the corridor outside the physical education (PE) department to motivate students and encourage open discussions around mental wellbeing and resilience.

Joining Brad and Maria on the walls of the school are stars such as Siya Kolisi, who led South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in 2019; former world number one and three-time tennis Grand Slam winner Sir Andy Murray; and gymnastics legend Simone Biles.

Maria, who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, won two bronze medals at last year’s delayed Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

The 22-year-old has also won medals at the World Championships, competing in the T35 100m and 200m, as well as the T35-38 4x100m relay.

She was proud to be on the wall alongside other impressive sporting names.

Beside the picture of Maria is an inspirational quote from her.

It reads: “Keeping fit is a huge part of my life, not only for my job but to help manage my disability.

“Sport and PE has helped me throughout school to develop important life skills such as time management, communication and confidence, and has taught me to deal with setbacks and respect others.”

Maria, who was a pupil at the school from 2012 to 2018, said: “It is really nice.

“It is nice to get that recognition and the school continues to celebrate that success.”

World champion kickboxer Brad, who is also a three-time Taekwon-Do world champion, has competed all over the world, from Uruguay to South Korea and Canada to Croatia.

He echoed Maria’s words and described it as “brilliant” to be recognised by the school.

Ahead of visiting the school on Tuesday, the 27-year-old said: “It’s a great feeling to be recognised beside some of the top athletes in the world.”

Next to Brad, who attended the school from 2007 to 2013, is another motivational quote.

It reads: “My time studying PE at Dunbar Grammar School gave me confidence to pursue my sporting goals.

“I was able to use knowledge I learned in school to assist in programming my training, as well as having the full support of the Dunbar Grammar School staff.”

Paul Sutherland, principal teacher of the health and wellbeing department, was pleased to say the response had been “really positive”.

He told the Courier: “We started by looking at our school’s RISE motto and the definitions of Respect, Inclusion, Support and Effort.

“Our pupils were asked to put forward names of sportspeople who they thought encapsulated these qualities.

“We then refined the list until we had four sportspeople for each heading with relevant quotes.

“We also created boards which focus on former pupils Brad and Maria.

“We felt that this was especially important – not only are we recognising Brad and Maria’s incredible successes, it’s inspiring for our young people to see former pupils who are performing on a world stage.

“Many pupils know or train with Brad or Maria and we hope they will take inspiration from their attitude and approach.”