Ealing’s budding athletes receive champion support – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing 7 Cities

Mentoring and mentoring support for emerging sportspeople in Ealing is provided by Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions.

The Everyone Active scheme, now in its eighth year, has helped more than 5,000 athletes across the country and provides free access to Everyone Active’s leisure facilities, including 10 sites in Ealing.

This year’s Ealing athletes who have been accepted into the program include:

• Boxer Damar Thomas, 19, who is a full-time podium athlete who trains with Team GB Boxing. Damar is third in the UK amateur heavyweight and won the Ealing Adult Sports Person of the Year 2023 award.
• Open water swimmer Alex Down, 16, who is the current regional open water champion. In 2023, she swam the English Channel as part of a relay for charity, raising nearly £7,000 on her own.
• Jude Bright-Davies, 25, track and field triple jumper, who is currently ranked number one in Great Britain. Jude is also an English outdoor champion and British outdoor silver medallist.

Those providing mentorship include Olympians and Paralympians Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, Lutalo Muhammad, Richard Kilty, Lauren Steadman and Maisie Summers-Newton and British sprint star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

As in previous years, Olympic silver medalist Colin Jackson is an ambassador for the scheme.

He said: “I am passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond that mission. With the Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place in Paris this summer, the program takes on even greater significance in 2024. Seeing these future champions blossom fuels my excitement for what lies ahead.”

Phil Edwards, Contract Manager at Everyone Active added: “Everyone Active’s Sports Champions scheme has been very successful in providing exceptional support to emerging talent and we are delighted to once again be supporting Ealing athletes on their journey to success.

“It’s fantastic to see how the scheme has grown over the years, now providing more than 1,000 athletes across the country with access to high-quality training facilities and support.

“As a leisure provider working in partnership with Ealing Council, we feel it is important to cater for all sections of the community. We hope to continue to make a real difference to the success of our athletes and are excited to see what the relaunch of the scheme will bring this year.”

Councilor Polly Knewstub, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities, said: “I am delighted that sports partner Everyone Active has brought back its Sports Champions scheme for the eighth year running. This is a great program that provides valuable support to some of our most promising young athletes by providing mentorship and access to equipment and facilities.”