The school was ranked in the top 10 in Victoria for its high participation rate among students for the Premier's Active April program.

As recognition for the school's achievement Linke paid a visit to Ararat North Primary and met with students.

Linke spoke to the children about setting life goals, identifying steps needed to reach their aims and then working hard to achieve them.

Linke also spoke at length about the need to exercise daily, eat good food and get sufficient sleep.

He also spoke about the need to be resilient after setbacks as Linke himself has experienced his fair share of setbacks in recent years.

After winning a bronze medal in the men's eight at the 2007 U23 World Championships, Linke made his senior A team debut in 2010 at the World Championships.

The following year at the World Championships in Slovenia, Linke was part of the men's eight crew that narrowly missed the podium finishing fourth.

He missed selection for the London Olympics due to a debilitating leg condition called popliteal artery entrapment.

Linke had four surgeries between 2010 and 2013 until deciding in June 2013 to have his plantaris removed on both legs and a piece of his soles cut and folded on top of itself.

Since the surgery, Linke has faced a huge uphill battle to rebuild strength in his legs and return to elite fitness with the ultimate goal of participation in the 2016 Olympics at Rio De Janeiro.

Linke returned to international competition in 2014, and won gold in his first race back as part of the men's four at the Coxless Quadruple Scull World Cup in Sydney.

Linke has a blog and web video series called Unsinkable which follows his 'Race to Recovery' in which he offers insight into the surgery, rehabilitation, struggles and success of trying to be on the national team.

Linke is completing a master of teaching, while coaching schoolboy rowing. He also works as a motivational speaker with the Victorian Institute of Sport ambassador program, work he finds very rewarding.

Premier's Active April is an initiative where all Victorians are encouraged to do 30 minutes of physical activity a day during the month of April.