LJMU Professor is trainer to the stars

Greg Whyte has worked with Cheryl Cole; Christine Bleakley after completing her water-ski challenge

Christine Bleakley has successfully completed her attempt to water-ski across the English Channel, with the help of an LJMU professor.

Greg Whyte, an Applied Sport Professor at LJMU, trained One Show presenter Bleakley for four months in preparation for her water-skiing feat.

He said: “It’s almost ludicrous really. When she came to me, she was a non-swimmer. She’d never skied before, she was physically weak and had no endurance capacity at all.

“Everything you didn’t want for a potential water-skier, she had it. But now, she’s in absolutely great shape. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Ex-Olympic pentathlete Whyte has been involved in all of the high-profile celebrity Sport and Comic Relief attempts, including Cheryl Cole’s trek up Kilimanjaro.

He recalled: “To be honest, one of the best things about Kilimanjaro was Chris Moyles and his efforts. People looked at him and thought he wouldn’t be able to make it up. But he did.

“For all the celebrities involved, it was like a world away from what they’re used too. For mere mortals like you and I, you just sort of rough it. But to be going up Kilimanjaro with Cheryl Cole and her having to go to the toilet in a tent in a bucket, is quite surreal. I’d definitely do it all again.”

Even though the various different challenges present a vast amount of difficulties, Whyte still thoroughly enjoys them.

He said: “It’s great from two perspectives really. I love these guys, and it’s really great to work with them. Then there’s the other side, which is I like to think that I’ve assisted raising in excess of six million pounds for charity, which is absolutely amazing.”

Whyte also trained David Walliams, Fearne Cotton and Davina McCall for Sport Relief’s ‘Million Pound Bike Ride.’ The feat involved seven celebrities cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End, taking it in turns to travel 1,000 miles across the country.

He said: “It was absolutely brutal. We were hitting temperatures of almost minus-thirty degrees. And when you consider I only had five weeks to prepare them, it was a serious tough challenge for these guys. But they did absolutely fantastically.

“All of the Sport Relief challenges I’ve been involved in have been incredible. Everyone involved has an amazing work ethic and an amazing attitude. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be involved in it all.”