Beccles swimmer wins award at Sporting Champions Awards

Will Ellard, from Beccles, was crowned the winner in the Outstanding Achievement of the Year category at Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions Awards.

The 18-year-old was presented with his award by Team GB's 110m hurdles star Colin Jackson at the event at Porchester Hall in Bayswater, London, on October 30.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Ellard achieved S14 200m freestyle gold in a world-record time, S14 mixed 4x100m freestyle gold, and silver in the S14 100m butterfly.

Will Ellard and Colin Jackson at the awards (Image: Submitted)

The Sporting Champions Awards celebrate those who have achieved career successes or have engaged with the Sporting Champions scheme at their local Everyone Active centre.

The scheme, now in its eighth year, supports 1,400 athletes by providing free access to Everyone Active's leisure facilities.

Stuart Jardine, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “Our congratulations go to Will on a fantastic year and a well-deserved award.

“The Sporting Champions scheme has been very successful in providing exceptional support to emerging talent and we were delighted to showcase this."

This year, Sporting Champions athletes won 23 medals at the Olympics and Paralympics, including nine golds, six silvers, and eight bronzes.

The awards ceremony was preceded by a mentoring workshop led by the scheme’s team of elite athletes.

Richard Kilty, Maisie Summers-Newton, and Lauren Steadman, stars of the Paris 2024 games, were joined by Olympians Lutalo Muhammad and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey to share their insights and experiences.

Mr Jardine added: “It’s fantastic to see how the scheme has expanded over the years, now providing more than 1,400 athletes nationwide with access to top-quality training facilities and support."

To find out more about the Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, visit easportingchampions.com or follow @easportingchamps on Instagram.