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[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 Boxing prodigy Ruby White crowned winner of SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award 2024 🏆

@NickHopeTV 🎥

Boxing superstar Ruby White hailed a 'crazy' feeling after concluding a memorable year by winning SportsAid’s illustrious One-to-Watch Award. The 18-year-old, from Sturminster Newton in Dorset, received the annual Award having completed her European three-peat in April before being crowned -48kg world champion at the inaugural U19 World Boxing Championships in Colorado.

The One-to-Watch Award, supported by Aldi, the charity’s Official Supermarket Partner, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has been running since 2006 with previous victors including Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

Ruby has been selected as the winner from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024. She edged out 400m runner Sam Reardon, 21, and basketball player Irene Oboavwoduo, 16, as they finished in second and third positions respectively. Ruby now firmly believes the accolade will help her follow in the footsteps of her esteemed predecessors.

"It's crazy….when I got presented with the Award I was a bit lost for words and in shock," said Ruby. "It's given me a lot more confidence to push that little bit more and prove to people that this Award is meant for me. The Commonwealth Games is in 2026 so that’s when I turn 19 so hopefully I’ll be able to win that. And then after that, in 2028, the Olympics in LA, win the gold medal and turn over pro.

"I’m going to win everything at one weight. And then I’m going to win everything at another weight and be undisputed champion of the world. It’s going to happen. I’m telling you. I want people to know my name now so that when I have all of those achievements, people can look back and see that SportsAid got it right with the One-to-Watch Award. I've read a lot about who has won it before so it's crazy for my name to now be up there with them. I want to be that inspirational name for others."

YOU CAN READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH RUBY BY CLICKING THE FOLLOWING LINK ▶️ https://t.co/oMcpx71huS

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #boxing #boxer

@England_Boxing @AldiUK @RubyWhi90252962

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

Charlie Gran shortlisted for SportsAid's 2025 One-To-Watch Award!! 🏆

We're delighted to announce British sailor Charlie Gran as the first of the top 10 for the 2025 OTW award 👏👏

Congrats Charlie 🥳

#sailing #49er #sportsaid #OTW #olympics #charity #sports

[England Boxing @England_Boxing]

It's official 👀

Our very own, Ruby White is the winner of the @TeamSportsAid One-to-Watch Award! 👏🏽

Huge congrats to the recently crowned World Champion 🥳

[Samuel Reardon @SamReardon4]

Such an honour to be presented @TeamSportsAid One-to-Watch runners up award by my coach and with training group. A great way to cap off what has been a great year. Can’t wait to see what 2025 brings!!

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🥈 Athletics star Sam Reardon finishes runner-up in SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award 2024 🥈

@NickHopeTV 🎥

Athletics star Sam Reardon has praised the unfaltering belief of those around him after finishing as runner-up for SportsAid's illustrious One-to-Watch Award. The 21-year-old, from Beckenham in Kent, soared to double Olympic bronze this summer as part of the mixed 4x400m and men's 4x400m relay squads in Paris following a remarkable journey to the Games.

Sam was sat at home watching the Opening Ceremony before a late call-up saw him replace team-mate Charlie Carvell after he withdrew through injury. Having overcome his initial disappointment of missing out on a maiden Olympics due to sustaining a hamstring tear on a training camp in South Africa earlier in the year, Sam bounced back in style to stand on the podium not just once….but twice.

Sam, who has been supported by SportsAid over the last two years, saw his incredible achievements further recognised as he was surprised with the runner-up plaque by his coach Nigel Stickings during a training session with his Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletics Club team-mates at the Norman Park Community Sports Centre.

The annual One-to-Watch Award, supported by Aldi, the charity’s Official Supermarket Partner, celebrates Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has been running since 2006 with previous winners including Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold. Sam had initially been shortlisted in the top 10 athletes, selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024.

"The amount of athletes that SportsAid support is massive and even to be nominated in the top 10 was huge,” said Sam. “To finish runner-up is a really amazing feeling and makes you feel like you have been noticed for what you've done this year which is nice. SportsAid has been a massive help and having someone say ‘we believe in you’ is so, so important. I think SportsAid do God’s work to help the young athletes of Britain get to where they want to be. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

YOU CAN READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SAM BY CLICKING THE FOLLOWING LINK ▶️ https://t.co/SoScMR0by8

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #athletics #trackandfield

@BritAthletics @BBHarriersAC @AldiUK @SamReardon4

[Nick Hope - the athlete’s journalist @NickHopeTV]

DELIGHTED to see the first of three films, created by @SONICKmedia, released today 🙏
HUGE congratulations to Irene & make sure you keep across @TeamSportsAid channels in the coming days to learn about the other podium finishers...

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🥉 Basketball prodigy Irene Oboavwoduo claims third place in SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award 2024 🥉

@NickHopeTV 🎥

Basketball star Irene Oboavwoduo never could have imagined she would be one of 10 nominees for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award….so finishing third came as a massive shock! The 16-year-old, from West Gorton in Manchester, has enjoyed an outstanding 2024, captaining England to U16 Four Nations gold and claiming the tournament’s MVP award for her performances.

Irene was surprised to be presented with her third-place plaque by her mum Judith during a training session with her Manchester Mystics team-mates at the Manchester Basketball Centre. The annual Award, supported by Aldi, the charity’s Official Supermarket Partner, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has been running since 2006 with previous winners including Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

The top 10 athletes were selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024. And Irene explained how honoured she felt to be recognised for her efforts as she now sets her sights on making it Stateside in the US college game.

“It is really exciting to finish third,” said Irene. “I didn’t think I would even make it into the top 10 so this is really special. I was shocked and honoured. There are all these amazing athletes who have achieved so much in their sports over the course of the year. So I’m really proud of myself to be recognised in the top 10 through all the hard work I have put in.

“It’s really an honour, all the people who have won it, like Tom Daley and Jodie Williams, all those amazing athletes, it really shows the talent and level I’ve been nominated for. It gives me more motivation to carry on and progress in my sport.”

YOU CAN READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH IRENE BY CLICKING THE FOLLOWING LINK ▶️ https://t.co/0RcCj9owOp

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #basketball #QueenoftheCourtUK

@BballEngland @MCR_Bball @AldiUK

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Jack Long 🏆

Wheelchair basketball prodigy Jack Long is setting his sights on a Paralympic debut at LA 2028 after enjoying a stellar year.

Jack, 20, has really come into his own over the last 12 months, representing GB’s U23 squad in their undefeated success at the European Championships 2024, where he played a major role on and off the court. He has also thrived at club level, winning back-to-back BUCS titles with the University of Worcester, captaining the team to the 2024 title in Loughborough.

Jack’s remarkable achievements have led to him being shortlisted in the top 10 for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award. The annual Award, launched in 2006, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has previously been won by Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

The top 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024. And Jack now feels ready to make the step up to seniors and will look to make his mark at major competitions in the lead up to the next Paralympic Games - the pinnacle of wheelchair basketball.

“I was getting invited to a couple of senior camps just to help the seniors train, so my main ambition is to start being invited just as someone who's ready to compete,” he said. “Getting invited to senior camps more regularly would definitely be at the top of my list of things that should happen, but I'm hoping that happens more in the short-term.

“I'd say long-term, there's a European Championships next year for seniors, so competing for a spot in them, even if I don't make it, would just be great seeing how far I've come in the past year. And then my final long-term goal would have to just be going to LA, the 2028 Paralympics. Going to LA would be great because all that I've worked for is that.”

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH JACK ▶️ https://t.co/jiamGBLL28

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #wheelchairbasketball #basketball

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Lily Laughton 🏆

If Lily Laughton wanted an ideal mentor to help her achieve her Olympic dreams, it would be hard to imagine anyone more qualified than Carl Hester. Now 57, Hester returned from Paris this summer with a fourth successive trip to the podium, winning team dressage bronze in his record-equalling seventh Olympics.

At just 20, Lily is a prodigious talent in dressage, part of the British Dressage U21 International Performance Pathway squad, while she has just come back from a year training and working at a yard in the Netherlands. While there, she was just down the road from another British Olympic medallist, Lottie Fry, but since coming back to England, she has been able to get insight from the legendary Hester as she looks to follow in his footsteps.

She explained: “I’m very lucky to train with Carl Hester. I don’t even know how many Olympics he has done now. Training with him each week, I’m really lucky and that is where I would like to get to. He’s very good at showing me the way and how to get there and the attitude I need to have. The Olympics is always the goal, I was in Holland working for an Olympian. That has always been my dream. I was very lucky that I did the Europeans at 19, so it’s just stepping stones. As long as the horses are happy and I have a good attitude and training, I don’t see why one day, that might not happen.”

The opportunity to train and work in the Netherlands was one that was too good to pass up for Lily, who headed straight over to Europe after finishing school. Success at the highest level of dressage comes with its fair share of challenges, and Lily admits that she has to manage her social media consumption, particularly around competition. But a year spent in a completely different environment has been huge for her development.

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH LILY ▶️ https://t.co/YTxr7mn763

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #equestrian #dressage

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Erin Boothman 🏆

Cycling sensation Erin Boothman wants her rapid rise to coincide with the 2026 Commonwealth Games in her home city of Glasgow.

The 17-year-old has been shortlisted in the top 10 for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award on the back of a banner year that saw her strike double gold at the UCI Junior World Championships.

The annual Award, launched in 2006, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has previously been won by Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

The top 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024.

With track cycling confirmed as one of the sports set to feature in the slimmed-down Games on home soil, Erin is eyeing up a spot on Team Scotland.

“With it being a home Commies, you can’t not make that a target,” said Erin. “That’s definitely something big.

“The Scottish squad is very strong on the track with Katie (Archibald), Neah (Evans) and the likes of Kate Richardson coming up, all of them are ridiculous riders and very strong.

“So it will be hard to get into the team, but it’s definitely a big goal in the next few years.”

Born in Netherlee, East Renfrewshire, Erin jumped on a bike as a kid at the behest of her family and was reeled into the cycling scene by friends.

“They were like, ‘there’s this race, just come along,’” said Erin. “I was actually rubbish, I was riding off the course and it did not go well!

“Eventually, you could see I had the potential and I always really enjoyed going out on the bike. I think it’s the freedom of it, you don’t get that feeling from other sports.

“I used to play things like netball and I loved the team aspect of those sports, but it was never the same as going out and just being yourself on the road.

“Even now, training is something I really appreciate and it helps me loads.”

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH ERIN ▶️ https://t.co/z8lxdIHmqi

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #cycling

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

Everyone at SportsAid was deeply saddened by the news of Paul Dickenson's recent passing.

Paul was a trustee of the charity for many years and also hosted the annual SportsBall for over a decade. Paul, one of the best-known voices in sport, became involved with SportsAid having been an award recipient in 1979 when he was in the thick of his hammer throwing career.

He was fiercely loyal, hugely knowledgeable and always wonderful company. The charity wishes to send its deepest condolences to Paul's family and friends while thanking him for his incredible contribution towards supporting the next generation of British athletes.

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Dan McLellan 🏆

There are not many teenagers who can say they have played in a World Cup final, but Dan McLellan is not content with stopping there. The 15-year-old powerchair football star was part of the England squad that narrowly missed out on gold to France last year, as he continues to take the sport by storm.

Dan was selected for the England development squad in April 2023 but has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the talent pathway since then, becoming the youngest-ever player to represent England in a major tournament. The Huntingdon native also clinched Champions Cup victory with his club Aspire and his talents have led to him being shortlisted in the top 10 for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

The annual Award, launched in 2006, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has previously been won by Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold. The top 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024.

It’s another big moment for Dan but he is now determined to keep pushing onto even bigger heights and ticking off more milestones.

“I want to be the England captain and take England to win in the World Cup,” he said. “I think that would probably be my main ambition because it's never been done before. Hopefully we can do it before I am old enough to even be in contention for captaincy, but I think if we could do it again and I was captain, I think that would make my life, so that's been my main ambition.

“I don't really see any need to do anything differently [to achieve that goal], just keep doing what I’m doing. I'm just going to keep working hard, keep putting in 110 percent, keep watching video footage, talking to the best players in the world, trying to see what they would do in certain situations, and I think that's all you really can do.”

As the youngest player in the England set-up at just 15, his transition into the senior side has not been without personal challenges for Dan, understandably feeling the pressure around players so much older than himself. However, Dan has vastly grown in confidence, fully aware that his presence in the side is justified by ability.

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH DAN ▶️ https://t.co/dGDkHN1y21

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #powerchairfootball #football

[England @England]

"I want to improve and be a better player and team-mate."

England Powerchair player Dan McLellan, who has been nominated for @TeamSportsAid's One To Watch Award, discusses his journey so far and representing his country at a World Cup.

#IDPWD

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Iggy Rinaldi 🏆

Climbing sensation Iggy Rinaldi is on a mission to prove that height is not the be all and end all in her sport.

Iggy, 15, is dominating at youth level and with back-to-back European titles already under her belt, she sits top of the pile in both the UK and European rankings.

Her remarkable achievements have seen a lot of people stand up and take notice of her talent – leading to her being shortlisted in the top 10 for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

The annual Award, launched in 2006, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has previously been won by Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

The top 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024.

Although Iggy is relatively petite compared to others in her category, she has not allowed her size to hold her back, proving her worth on the wall and putting her competition on notice.

She has demonstrated true mental resilience to overcome anxieties surrounding her supposed physical disadvantages, instead utilising her shorter stature to stand out from the crowd.

“I faced several challenges this year,” she said. “Overcoming mental blocks and anxieties around competing has been a big one.

“As a short climber, that was a bit of a battle for me, figuring out a different way around climbs due to being shorter.

“But it's actually helped me in the long run because I developed a different style of climbing, more dynamic, which has helped me a lot and has just shaped me as a climber.

“I think as a younger climber, it can be quite a big issue, especially in youth competitions where taller, younger athletes have an advantage because they can reach.

“But no, I don't think height is a step back. You just need to kind of work your way around it, figure out your own style, and it will be fine.”

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH IGGY ▶️https://t.co/Rf0JkFrYMg

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #climbing #climber

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Irene Oboavwoduo 🏆

Irene Oboavwoduo is spearheading a sporting family dynasty that looks set to dominate across both sides of the Atlantic in years to come. Irene, 16, has quickly emerged as one of the country's top basketball prodigies after enjoying a stellar 2024, captaining England to U16 Four Nations gold and claiming the tournament’s MVP award in the process. Her impressive exploits have led to her being shortlisted in the top 10 for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

The annual Award, launched in 2006, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has previously been won by Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold. The top 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024. However, Irene is not the only one in the Irene household pursuing athletic superstardom.

Both her older brother, Justin, and her younger sister, Jane, are flying for Manchester City, with the latter recently on international duty with England at the U17 Women’s World Cup. While some might expect a sibling rivalry to bubble up, Irene says her high-performing family’s success is aided by mutual support, leaning on each other whenever possible.

She said: “Justin plays for City and he also plays with the U19 England squad, and then Jane was at the U17 Women's World Cup representing England and she was the youngest there in her tournament, she’s 14. You could see rivalry, but I think if we just push each other to be the best players that we can be. With basketball and football, even though it's different sports, I feel like we're all striving to just be a better player and a better person.

“I really like helping my siblings, my brother and sister, I give them advice and stuff like that. We always find time to pray together or after a long weekend, we'd always find time to just sit and just debrief on our day. We're all in different places, so we just talk about what happened that day. Maybe Jane had a game, so then she'd come home and talk about her game, then I'd talk about my game, then maybe Justin would come and talk about his game, so it’s just constant conversation.”

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH IRENE ▶️ https://t.co/eggFiuwLCL

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #basketball #QueenoftheCourtUK

[SportsAid @TeamSportsAid]

🏆 SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award shortlist: Sam Reardon 🏆

Sam Reardon is not an athlete who shies away from setting big targets and the double Olympic medallist believes his Paris exploits are just the start.

The 21-year-old from Beckenham watched the opening ceremony from home having initially missed out on a place in Team GB’s track and field squad following an injury-hit start to 2024.

A blistering 44.7s at the London Athletics Meet showed what he was capable of and though it came too late to seal an individual spot, it put him at the forefront of the selectors’ minds for the relays when Charlie Carvell withdrew through injury.

Over the following fortnight, Sam seized his opportunity to win bronze medals as part of the men’s and mixed 4x400m quartets – an achievement which, two months on, has not truly sunk in.

The incredible exploits which unfolded during the summer have led to Sam being shortlisted in the top 10 for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

The annual Award, launched in 2006, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has previously been won by Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

The top 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports in 2024.

“The word I’ve used to describe it [Paris Olympics] most is whirlwind,” he said. “It was a really surreal experience, everything I’ve ever dreamed of at the biggest event you can do. I still can’t really believe it happened.

“I had come to terms with the fact I wasn’t going and I was living a pretty chilled life in the build-up.

"In some respects, that probably helped, but it also meant there was a whole lot of emotion packed into a short space of time, which added a lot of stress.

“But I’m so proud of how it happened. On the second weekend, I had about 20 people there and to show them the medal was a really special moment.

"The medal ceremony music still sends a shiver down my spine. It makes you think ‘wow, it was real’ and brings all those memories back.”

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE FULL STORY WITH SAM ▶️ https://t.co/mlUXMGWQrv

#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #athletics #trackandfield