As part of our passion for supporting homegrown sporting talent, each year we recognise the achievements and progress of ten athletes – hand-picked for their talent by UK Athletics – by inviting them to become SPAR stars and become part of the SPAR Sprints Programme.
Athletes of the future
This Programme is now tied to the UKA Futures scheme, which underpins the World Class Performance Pathway by working with up to 40 talented athletes aged between 17 and 20. The ten sprinters selected to be part of that scheme become our SPAR stars.
This year’s stars are Eugene Ayanful, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Meghan Beesley, David Bolarinwa, Emily Diamond, Tremayne Gilling, Louis Persent, Andrew Pozzi, Kieran Showler-Davis, Danny Talbot and Deji Tobais – read our exclusive interviews with each of them!
As SPAR stars they will receive both financial and athletic support from SPAR and UKA to help them reach their full potential and hopefully perform at the highest level in years to come. They will enjoy a trip to the SPAR-sponsored European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris in March to help them gain first-hand experience of a major championship, and during their visit they will receive mentoring from top British athletes. Other benefits include £250 to spend in SPAR stores, tickets to major events and sports kit. At the end of the year a vote for the best SPAR star will take place and the winner crowned Outstanding Athlete of the Year.
Past SPAR stars have included Martyn Rooney, bronze medallist at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona in 2010.
Pictured (left to right): SPAR stars Louis Persent, Deji Tobais, Eugene Ayanful, Emily Diamond, David Bolarinwa, Kieran Showler-Davis and Tremayne Gilling, with 100m Olympic sprinter Jeanette Kwakye (centre).
