How our environment shapes us: John McAvoy

Lessons from the ex-armed robber reformed through sport. John McAvoy spent ten years in some of the UK's highest security prisons, having grown up around some of the most notorious criminals in the country. He even chose to spend a year in solitary confirnement rather than be "broken by the system". But while in prison John had an epiphany that transformed his outlook and identity. He discovered a talent for endurance sport, and after having broken world records at indoor rowing while in prison, John successfully turned his life around and is now an elite Ironman athlete sponsored by Nike. Having valued money above all else when growing up, now his priority is to help others, through charities like Greenhouse sports and by going into schools and prisons to give talks to young people. John proves that a leopard can change its spots, and that while we can judge behaviour, we may want to reconsider being too quick to judge the person, because the enviroment we find ourselves in has a profound impact on our life choices. @simonmundie