Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme is relaunching this month for the ninth consecutive year, offering up-and-coming athletes the chance to elevate their sporting careers.

The renowned programme provides aspiring athletes with access to state-of-the-art training facilities and invaluable mentoring support from Olympians and Paralympians.

Since its inception in 2016, the scheme has supported the sporting careers of more than 6,000 athletes by providing them with free access to Everyone Active’s 240-plus leisure centres nationwide.

Sporting Champion Mari Durward-Akhurst with British Paralympic athlete Lauren Steadman (Image: Everyone Active)

These include Chesham Leisure Centre, Chalfont Leisure Centre, and Chilterns Lifestyle Centre, all run in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council.

One local athlete who has benefitted from the scheme is Mari Durward-Akhurst, a para dressage and para rowing athlete who became a European Silver Medallist at the Para Dressage European Championships in 2019 and a Paralympic Bronze Medallist in 2024.

Mari, 30, from Amersham, said: “Being on the Sporting Champions scheme and training at Chilterns Lifestyle Centre has been an enormous support.

“Having gym and swimming pool access has helped me to maintain my progressive condition allowing me to compete at the highest level – the Paralympics.”

Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder Colin Jackson will return as the scheme’s ambassador for 2025-2026.

He will work alongside a line-up of elite athletes who have starred on the Olympic and Paralympic stage – Lauren Steadman, Lutalo Muhammad, Richard Kilty, Maisie Summers-Newton, and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – in mentoring sessions throughout the year.

These sporting heroes will offer wisdom, guidance, and expert advice, guiding rising athletes through every milestone of their sporting journeys.

Last summer, the scheme supported 26 Sporting Champions who competed in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, achieving nine gold, six silver, and eight bronze medals.

An incredible 14 of these athletes made their debuts at Paris 2024, coming home with 11 medals between them.

Colin said: “After a summer of monumental success in 2024, I am more excited than ever to support athletes of all ages and from all disciplines to achieve their dreams.

“I’m passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission.”

Over the past eight years, the Sporting Champions scheme has poured more than £2million into young athletes, proving its commitment to grassroots sporting excellence.

Steve Salwa, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We are delighted to support up-and-coming athletes from Buckinghamshire on their journey to success.”