Aspiring athletes in Wythenshawe are set to gain vital support as part of a sports talent development programme.
Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, now in its ninth year, has helped more than 7,000 athletes to achieve their sporting potential by providing free access to Everyone Active’s 230-plus leisure facilities, including Forum Leisure at Wythenshawe.
Among the athletes accepted on the scheme in Wythenshawe this year are:
- 17-year-old Ali Azger Ahmady, who is the three-time North West Champion in boxing and has hopes of gaining a place in Team GB.
- 14-year-old judo athlete Amber Donaghy who gained the title as British Champion 2023-24 and silver at the Welsh and British Championships.
Alongside free access to Everyone Active centres, Sporting Champions will also receive valuable mentoring and guidance from an impressive panel of Elite athletes comprising world champions, Commonwealth champions and Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic medallists.
The scheme’s all-star line-up of athletes includes Richard Kilty, Lauren Steadman, Maisie Summers-Newton and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, while new to the panel for 2025 is Team GB cyclist Emma Finucane*.
These elite athletes will share their experience and expertise through group mentoring sessions, covering topics including mental wellbeing, nutrition, managing finances, social media and media training.
New for this year, Sporting Champions will take part in bitesize webinars in collaboration with national governing bodies. The scheme will also offer innovative hands-on workshops, designed to equip up-and-coming athletes with the practical tools and techniques needed to be at the top of their game.
Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder, Colin Jackson CBE, will continue to support the scheme through his role as ambassador, working alongside the elite athletes to help make sport more accessible within local communities.
Colin said: “I am incredibly passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission.
“As the scheme’s ambassador, my role is to pass my knowledge, experience and expertise on to the next generation of super-talented athletes. Seeing these future champions flourish throughout each year as they gain confidence fuels my excitement for what’s to come.”
At the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, no fewer than 26 Sporting Champions competed, taking home nine gold, six silver and eight bronze medals collectively.
Phil Bowers, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We’re delighted to be providing exceptional support to this year’s cohort who have been accepted on to Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme.
“The profound impact Sporting Champions has on emerging talent from Wythenshawe each year is always amazing to see, and we are excited to be supporting more athletes than ever on their journey to sporting success.
“As a leisure provider working in partnership with Wythenshawe Forum Trust, we feel it is important to cater for all sections of the community. We hope to continue making a real difference to our athletes’ success and are excited to see what success stories the scheme will bring this year.”
To find out more about Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, please visit ea-champions.com/sporting-champions/ or follow @easportingchamps on Instagram. For further information on Everyone Active, visit www.everyoneactive.com