Cycling world champion Erin Boothman finishes third in SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award 2025

The teenager, from Netherlee, Glasgow, continues to blaze a trail on the world stage, claiming two gold medals and a world record at the 2025 UCI Junior Track World Championships and cementing her place within a golden generation of British women’s cycling.

A third place finish in the SportsAid One-to-Watch rounds off an incredible year for the Scottish cyclist, as she also won gold in the Kilo at the Track European Championships, as well as topping the podium in the Madison and the Team Pursuit.

Speaking of finishing third in this year’s awards, Erin said:

“It’s super special to win this award. To even be announced as part of the top ten was great, to finish third is incredible. Really special.

“It means the world to get the SportsAid funding, and then to get recognised two years in a row for my achievements too is great.

“To get recognised off the track as well as on it and who I am as a person, I’m so happy.”

Erin’s journey began simply, riding bikes with her parents for fun before joining a local club around the age of ten.

Racing around a car park quickly turned into something more serious, and by 15 she had committed fully to cycling, progressing step by step through the Scottish and British Cycling pathways.

She said:

“I’ve always loved the freedom of it

“Being outdoors, just going out on the bike, it never felt the same in other sports. Once I made the decision, it was an easy one.”

Her belief that cycling could become a career crystallised over the past two seasons.

A first world medal opened her eyes to what might be possible, while her performances on the road and track in 2024 and 2025 confirmed that she could compete, and win, at the very highest level.

After balancing exams with limited racing in 2024, Erin ended the year by announcing herself globally, winning double gold at the Junior Track World Championships in China as a first-year junior.

2025 continued in a similar fashion, collecting three gold medals at the junior European Championships before adding two more junior world titles.

At the 2025 Junior Track World Championships, Erin won the Madison alongside Phoebe Taylor and teamed up with Abigail Miller, Evie Smith and Taylor to claim Team Pursuit gold in world-record time.

Earlier in the year, she had also completed a clean sweep of seven victories at the Interland ‘Next Generation’ meeting in Apeldoorn and claimed victory at Junior Gent-Wevelgem on the road.

“One of my biggest highlights was the Madison win.

“I was called in last minute after an injury to another rider, wasn’t expecting to race it at all, and then to win was really special.”

Away from the medals, Erin is aware of the financial realities of junior cycling, and the role SportsAid has played in making her journey sustainable.

“When I first got the email saying I could apply for SportsAid funding and then found out I’d been awarded support, it was huge.

“At that point we were basically full-time athletes with no funding. Without SportsAid, I genuinely wouldn’t have been able to travel all over the world to race.”

While equipment is often supplied, travel, accommodation and day-to-day costs quickly add up. SportsAid support has eased the pressure not only on Erin, but on her family too.

“My parents were having to sacrifice a lot for me to make the step up,” she said.

“I’ve got two younger siblings as well, and SportsAid has helped take some of that pressure away. It’s made a massive difference.”

The One-to-Watch Award, supported by Aldi, SportsAid’s Official Supermarket Partner, celebrates Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has been running since 2006. Previous winners include Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

Being shortlisted, and finishing third overall, in the One-to-Watch Award has given Erin further confidence that she is on the right path.

“With SportsAid, you’re mixing with athletes from every sport across the UK.

“To be selected in the top 10 makes it feel extra special. When you look at the names who’ve won it before, it makes you believe you could go on and make it big too.”

Looking ahead, Erin’s ambitions are clear. A home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026 looms large, alongside the ultimate goal of Olympic selection for Los Angeles 2028.

Beyond her own career, Erin is passionate about giving back and helping inspire the next generation of girls to stay in sport.

“Exposure is so important,” she said. “Cycling can be such a unique sport for girls, but you have to see it to believe it’s possible. If I can help show that, then that means a lot.”

SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award, supported by Aldi, celebrates Britain’s most promising young athletes and provides vital financial and personal development support. For Erin, that backing continues to help transform world-class potential into podium-topping performances, with the best still yet to come.