SportsAid

🏆 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 ▶️ sportsaid.org.uk/news-and-insig…

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

@England_Boxing @AldiUK @RubyWhi90252962

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

🥈 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 ▶️ sportsaid.org.uk/news-and-insig…

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

@BritAthletics @BBHarriersAC @AldiUK @SamReardon4

🥉 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 ▶️ sportsaid.org.uk/news-and-insig…

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

@BballEngland @MCR_Bball @AldiUK

🏆 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 ▶️ sportsaid.org.uk/athletes/athle…
 
#SportsAidO2W #SupportTheNext #SportsAid #Olympics #Paralympics #sport #athletes #mentoring #wellbeing #nextgeneration #nextgen #future #talent #charity #fundraising #wheelchairbasketball #basketball