One-to-Watch Award
SportsAid’s annual One-to-Watch Award was launched in 2006 and looks to shine a spotlight on the achievements of Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects.
The success of the One-to-Watch Award’s illustrious ‘Hall of Fame’ speaks for itself as previous victors, including Tom Daley, Hollie Arnold MBE and Alex Yee, have already amassed countless senior medals from Olympic and Paralympic Games, World and European Championships, as well as Commonwealth Games, firmly establishing themselves as household names in British sport.
Each year, 10 athletes are selected from around 1,000 rising British stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports. The shortlisted athletes are nominated by their sport’s governing body on the strength of their talent and potential, demonstrating why the One-to-Watch Award has gained such a strong reputation for identifying the best up-and-coming prospects.
Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Winckless MBE leads the expert judging panel which also includes Commonwealth Games champion Ama Agbeze MBE and Nick Hope, an award-winning Olympic and Paralympic Reporter, at present. Each of the top 10 are interviewed as part of the process, answering questions relating to their sporting achievements as well as their lives as a whole, before the panel make their final decision.
Skeet shooter Amber Hill was presented with the One-to-Watch Award by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, the Patron of SportsAid, back in 2013. Many SportsAid alumni have returned to hand over the award such as Sir Matthew Pinsent, Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Mo Farah, Victoria Pendleton CBE, Steve Backley OBE, Sir Ben Ainslie, Christine Ohuruogu MBE and Ellie Simmonds OBE.
Reigning Champion
It's a really good feeling and it's great to have had this season's achievements recognised! They caught me off-guard with my Award which was a lovely surprise. Christine [Ohuruogu] has done amazing things, not only in the sport as a whole but in the 400 specifically, so just to have her recognise me and be able to be in a room with such great and successful people is exciting. I appreciated her being there for it. I feel like it sets me up for a great trajectory of success and hopefully I will follow in the footsteps of those before [who have won the One-to-Watch Award]. I feel like I'm already on the radar especially because of my first senior season, not only just competing but coming away with medals. The targets I had were hit in the senior field and it solidified my position there and hopefully I can now go further.
Hall of Fame
Tom Daley (diving) - 2006
Andrew Brown (sailing) - 2007
Hollie Arnold (para athletics) - 2008
Jodie Williams (athletics) - 2009
Harry Martin (hockey) - 2010
Sally Brown (para athletics) - 2011
Courtney Tulloch (gymnastics) - 2012
Amber Hill (shooting) - 2013
Hall of Fame
Morgan Lake (athletics) - 2014
Emma Wilson (sailing) - 2015
Alex Yee (triathlon) - 2016
Holly Dunford (rowing) - 2017
Caroline Dubois (boxing) - 2018
Ellie Challis (para swimming) - 2019
Mark Swan (powerlifting) - 2022
Yemi Mary John (athletics) - 2023
Inaugural Winner
I won the first One-to-Watch Award and I remember going on stage with Matthew Pinsent [who presented the award] and feeling so small – he was towering above me! I went there with my dad and a trip to London was big for us in itself. Receiving that award and getting the recognition was the first time I’d ever stood in front of so many people wearing something other than my trunks! People were clapping for my achievements and this was at the time that London 2012 had just been announced – I remembered that moment being the start of something exciting.
Looking back at what I’ve achieved, that was really a breakthrough moment for me when my diving career took off. It takes a lot of time, effort and commitment [to be a successful athlete] so I have SportsAid to thank for a lot.