Active's Sports Champions Scheme, which has been rebooting for the ninth year in a row this month, aims to provide aspiring athletes with access to training facilities and mentoring from Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Since launching in 2016, the scheme has supported more than 6,000 athletes by providing free access to more than 240 leisure centres across the country.
The centers include Scarborough Sports Village, Whitby Leisure Center, Pindar Leisure Center, Ryedale Swim and Fitness Center, Ryedale Sports Center, and Derwent Swim and Fitness Center.
One local athlete who benefited from the plan is Aaron Gilson, a swimmer who trains at Scarborough Sports Village.
Over the past year, the 25-year-old has won three medals at the Luxembourg Open, including gold in the 50m breaststroke, and has competed in the Scotland National Championships and Swim England County and Regional Championships.
Gilson said: “This scheme was invaluable.
“Access to early morning and evening swimming sessions and gym training is essential to my development.
“The support network of elite athletes and coaches from various sports was also amazing.”
Olympic silver medalist and former world record holder Colin Jackson will return as ambassador for the 2025-2026 scheme.
He works with athletes such as Lauren Steadman, Lutaro Muhammad, Richard Kirty, Maisie Summers Newton and Harry Ikins Arietto, providing mentoring sessions throughout the year.
A spokesperson said, “These sports heroes provide wisdom, guidance and expert advice and guide athletes as they rise through every milestone in their sporting journey.”
Last summer, the scheme supported 26 sports champions who competed in the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, winning nine gold, six silver and eight bronze medals.
Fourteen of these athletes made their debut in Paris 2024, winning 11 medals.
Jackson said: “After a monumental summer of success in 2024, I am more than ever before excited to support athletes of all ages and athletes of all fields and realize their dreams.
“I'm passionate about developing young talent and the sports champion scheme goes even further on this mission.”
Peter Smith, Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said:
“As a leisure provider working in partnership with the North Yorkshire Council, I feel it is important to respond to all sections of the community to ensure that all emerging athletes have access to the same facilities and opportunities. Masu.
The application is open until Tuesday, March 11th and can be created at astportingchampions.com.
