SportsAid announces annual One-to-Watch Award shortlist for 2022

Back in 2019, para swimming sensation Ellie Challis received the One-to-Watch Award from Dame Katherine Grainger, who was a previous beneficiary of support from the charity, after a sensational 12 months. Ellie had won bronze in the women’s S3 50m backstroke at the World Para Swimming Championships and set one world and two European records at the British Para Swimming International. She has since added Paralympic silver and further world-level medals to her tally.

“I was so shocked when I heard my name read out as the winner of SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award,” said Ellie, who was supported by SportsAid through the Backing The Best programme, upon receiving the award three years ago. “It's blown me away to hear about all the amazing achievements of the other athletes and then realise I'm the one who has won the award!”

The One-to-Watch Award shortlist for this year includes Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games medallists and junior world champions, with many European and national accolades won by the nominees. Each of the athletes have been invited to attend the Celebrate the Next event as SportsAid supporters, find out more about their successes.

Charlotte Jenman, 17, from Dartford – Judo

Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker, 21, from Grays – Para Athletics

Gabrielle Holland, 16, from East Grinstead – Modern Pentathlon

Jayda Pechová, 18, from Fleet – Netball

Lucy Garlick, 15, from Carshalton – Climbing

Marcus Chute, 18, from Datchet – Rowing

Marfa Ekimova, 17, from Welling – Rhythmic Gymnastics

Mark Swan, 21, from Seaham – Powerlifting

Poppy Maskill, 17, from Middlewich –  Para Swimming

Yemi Mary John, 19, from Woodford – Athletics

The 10 athletes have been selected from around 1,000 rising British stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports during 2022. Each year, 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.

The expert judging panel includes Sarah Winckless MBE (chair), former Chef De Mission for Commonwealth Games England, Ama Agbeze, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Natasha Baker MBE, a six-time Paralympic champion, Nick Hope, an award-winning Olympic and Paralympic broadcaster, and Joslyn Hoyte-Smith of the GB Olympians’ Association, this year.

Skeet shooter Amber Hill was presented with the One-to-Watch Award by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, 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, Ellie Simmonds OBE and Greg Rutherford MBE.

Here’s more information on the athletes shortlisted for this year’s One-to-Watch Award

SportsAid awards in 2021 (Kent County Council), 2022 (Backing The Best)

• Bronze in the women’s -52kg category at the European Cadet Championships 2022

• Gold in the women’s -52kg category at the European Cadet Cup 2022 (Strasbourg)

• Fifth in the women’s -52kg category at the European Youth Olympic Festival 2022

SportsAid awards in 2018 (Nelsons), 2021, 2022 (Backing The Best)

• Gold in the men’s T45-47 100m at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 (senior)

• Gold in the men’s T47 100m at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2022 in Dubai (senior)

• Bronze in the men’s mixed class 100m at the British Athletics Championships 2022 (senior)

SportsAid awards in 2020, 2021, 2022 (Royal Bank of Canada)

• Silver in the women’s individual at the European Pentathlon Championships (Under-19s)

• Silver in the women’s relay at the Youth World Pentathlon Championships 2022 (Under-19s)

• Fourth in the women’s individual at the Youth World Pentathlon Championships 2022 (Under-19s)

SportsAid awards in 2022 (Backing The Best)

• Gold at the Europe Netball Under-21s Championships 2021 and Under-19s Championships 2022

• Winners of the National Performance League 2022 (Grand Final) with London Pulse (Under-21s)

• Runners-up in the National Performance League 2022 with London Pulse (Under-21s)

SportsAid awards in 2022 (Royal Bank of Canada)

• Silver in the women’s boulder at the Europe Continental Youth Cup 2022 (Soure)

• Fourth in the women’s boulder at the Youth World Championships 2022

• Seventh in the women’s lead at the Europe Continental Youth Championships 2022

SportsAid awards in 2022 (Thompson Trust)

• Gold in the men’s 2,000m singles at the National Schools’ Regatta 2022

• Gold in the men’s 2,000m singles at the European Rowing Championships 2022 (Under-19s)

• Fifth in the men’s 2,000m singles at the World Rowing Championships 2022 (Under-19s)

SportsAid awards, 2022 (Backing The Best), 2021-22 (TASS)

• Gold in the women’s individual all-around at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 (senior)

• Bronze in the women’s team event at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 (senior)

• Gold in the women’s individual all-around at the British Gymnastics Championships 2022 (senior) 

SportsAid awards in 2020-21 (TASS), 2021, 2022 (Backing The Best)

• Gold in the men’s -65kg category at the European Open Para Powerlifting Championships 2022 (senior)

• Gold in the men’s -65kg category at the World Para Powerlifting Junior Championships 2021

• Silver in the men’s lightweight category at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 (senior)

SportsAid awards in 2020 (Stuart Cross), 2022 (Aldi)

• Silver in the women’s S14 100m backstroke at the World Para Swimming Championships 2022 (senior)

• Bronze in the women’s S14 100m butterfly at the World Para Swimming Championships 2022 (senior)

• Fourth in the women’s S14 200m freestyle at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 (senior)

SportsAid awards in 2022 (Gateley)

• Gold in the women’s 400m at the World Athletics Under-20s Championships 2022

• Silver in the women’s 400m at the European Athletics Under-20s Championships 2021

• Bronze in the women’s 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Under-20s Championships 2022

Criteria for the One-to-Watch Award

• Must be recommended by their sport’s national governing body.

• Must be one of the 1,000+ British athletes supported by SportsAid this year.

• Excellence in results at the international level.

• Excellence in results at the domestic level.

• British/European/world rankings.

• Membership of national squads/teams.

• Age group status, standing and years left.

• Commitment, dedication, promise (comments received from their sport’s NGB).

• Likelihood to improve in following years – performance and ranking.

Judging Panel for the One-to-Watch Award

Chair: Sarah Winckless MBE (Olympic bronze medallist in rowing and former Chef De Mission for Commonwealth Games England)

Ama Agbeze (Commonwealth Games gold medallist in netball)

Natasha Baker MBE (Six-time Paralympic gold medallist in para equestrian)

Nick Hope (Award-winning Olympic and Paralympic broadcaster)

Joslyn Hoyte-Smith (Chair, GB Olympians’ Association)

Hannibal Morris (Head of England Talent Development Pathways, Sport England)

Adam Murphy (National Awards Manager, SportsAid)

Alice Radford (Backing The Best Awards Manager, SportsAid)

Ian Braid (Managing Director, DOCIAsport)

Previous One-to-Watch Award winners since the charity launched the accolade

2006 – Tom Daley (diving)

2007 – Andrew Brown (sailing)

2008 – Hollie Arnold (para athletics)

2009 – Jodie Williams (athletics)

2010 – Harry Martin (hockey)

2011 – Sally Brown (para athletics)

2012 – Courtney Tulloch (gymnastics)

2013 – Amber Hill (shooting)

2014 – Morgan Lake (athletics)

2015 – Emma Wilson (sailing)

2016 – Alex Yee (triathlon)

2017 – Holly Dunford (rowing)

2018 – Caroline Dubois (boxing)

2019 – Ellie Challis (para swimming)

Photo Credits

Charlotte Jenman – European Judo Union

Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker – British Athletics and Getty Images

Gabrielle Holland – Daniel Dalecki for Modern Pentathlon Poland

Jayda Pechova – England Netball

Lucy Garlick – TBC

Marcus Chute – European Rowing

Marfa Ekimova – David Pearce

Mark Swan – Hiroki Nishioka

Poppy Maskill – George Kerr and British Swimming

Yemi Mary John – Oscar Munoz Badilla for World Athletics