THE FUTURES PROGRAM IS IN STRENGTH IN 2024

A Paralympic 1500m gold medal for Ben Sandilands (Steve Doig, Fife) and Olympic relay medals for Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood) and Sam Reardon (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath and Bromley) were summer highlights in what has been a fantastic year for athletes at the Paralympic Games. UK Athletics Future Program supported by Nike.

Busy competition schedule including World Indoor Championships (March), European Throwing Cup (March), World Athletics Relays (May), World Para Athletics Championships (May), European Athletics Championships (June ), European Under-18 Championship (July). ), Olympic Games (August), World Under-20 Championships (August) and Paralympic Games (August/September), both Olympic and Paralympic athletes have produced a number of impressive performances throughout 2024.

In the Olympic program, 14 athletes out of 33 were selected to represent Teams Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB and NI), including four – Charlie Carwell (Stuart Marshall, Telford AC), Hunt, Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness). ) and Reardon – who were selected to represent Team GB at the Paris Olympics.

Reardon – a late call-up to Team GB after Carwell’s unfortunate withdrawal due to injury – won two bronze medals in the 4 x 400m relay and 4 x 400m medley relay. These performances capped an incredible summer during which he lowered his personal best to 44.70 (from 46.21 in 2023). Hunt also medaled in Paris, winning an impressive silver in the 4 x 100m relay.

Future athletes won medals in other places. As well as being on the Olympic podium, Hunt was a member of the GB&NI quartet that won gold medals in the 4 x 100m relay at the European Championships in Rome, and a bronze medalist at the World Athletics Relay. Keith also had an impressive podium finish in Rome, finishing third in the 10,000m, while Teddy Wilson (Marvin Rowe and Darren Braithwaite, Shaftesbury Barnet) won silver in the 4 x 100m at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima. Peru.

As part of the Paralympic Programme, ten athletes out of 29 have been selected to represent Teams Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB and NI), with nine of these athletes selected to represent ParalympicsGB at the Paralympics. Joining Sandilands in Paris are Fabien André (Richard Chiassaro, Harlow); Madeline Down (Mike Bennett, Halesowen); Luke Nuttall (Sonya and Chris McGeorge, Charnwood); Oluwafunmilola (Funmi) Oduwaye (Josh Clark, DSW Para Academy); Didi Oko (Joe McDonnell, Chelmsford); Marcus Perrineau-Daley (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy); Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Arno Mule, Red Velvet Racing); and Melanie Woods (Roger Harkins, Red Star).

Medals, in addition to Sandilands’ world record of 3:45.40 in the T20 1500m, were won by fellow Paralympic debutants Perrineau-Daly (silver in the T52 100m) and Oko (bronze in the T63 100m).

At the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, Kevin Santos (Mike Utting, Norwich City) won silver in the 4x100m medley relay.

The Future Program aims to support athletes and coaches who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Previous graduates to achieve success in the Class of 2024 include 800m Olympic champion Keeley Hodgkinson (Trevor Paynter, Lee); world indoor pole vault champion Molly Coderie (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley); Olympic bronze medalist in the 4 x 400m relay and European silver medalist in the 400m Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester); Olympic 4 x 100m relay bronze medalists Jeremiah Azou (Marco Irell, Cardiff), Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove) and Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies); and European 5000m silver medalist George Mills (Thomas Dreisigacker, club: Brighton Phoenix).

Through a series of camps, expertise and a dedicated staff, the Program provides athletes with the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities needed for international success and is part of the pathway to a World Class Program (WCP).

Dan Wagner, Head of Performance Pathway UK, said: “It has been an exceptionally busy year with a packed calendar of events, starting with the World Indoor Championships at home in Glasgow in March. From the European and World Age Group Championships to the European Senior Championships, the World Para Athletics Championships and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2024 has provided the ideal platform for current and former Future Program athletes and their coaches, and a fantastic example of the right path to development. to the very top of our sport.

“The Future Program aims to engage and understand athletes and coaches, supporting them on their unique journey at different stages of their development. We are incredibly proud of those who have gone on to represent the senior teams in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. What better source of inspiration for program participants than seeing their peers succeed on the world stage? – but we’re also proud of those who achieve their own goals, whether that’s achieving a personal best or making their GB&NI debut.

To follow the progress of British Athletics Futures Program athletes, visit UKA Futures (ukafutures) on Instagram.