Aspiring athletes in Wythenshawe are set to gain vital support as part of a sports talent development programme.
Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has helped more than 6,000 athletes to achieve their sporting potential by providing free access to state-of-the-art facilities at Everyone Active’s 250-plus leisure sites.
This includes Forum Leisure at Wythenshawe, managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Wythenshawe Forum Trust.
This year, a record 1,700 athletes have been accepted on the renowned scheme. Among those to secure their places in Wythenshawe are:
Jonathan Hunter, a 31-year-old obstacle course racing athlete, who has achieved major international titles and record‑setting performances since starting the sport in 2024. At the 2025 FISO World Championships in Sweden, Jonathan competed across all distances and secured Gold in the 3km short course, earning the title of OCR World Champion (30–34). He also won Gold at the OCR European Championships in Portugal in the 30-34 Short Course category.
38-year-old Katie Whittle, who won silver in the 400m V35 indoor and outdoor championships and is ranked sixth in the UK overall.
Alongside free access to Everyone Active centres, Sporting Champions will also receive valuable mentoring and guidance from an impressive panel of Elite athletes comprising Olympic and Paralympic medallists, world champions and Commonwealth champions.
The scheme’s all-star line-up of top athletes includes Lauren Steadman, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Emma Finucane, Maisie Summers-Newton and Richard Kilty.
These Elite athletes will share their experience and expertise through group mentoring sessions, covering topics including mental wellbeing, nutrition, managing finances, social media and media training.
These innovative, hands-on workshops are designed to equip up-and-coming athletes with the practical tools and techniques needed to be at the top of their game. In addition, Sporting Champions will take part in bitesize webinars in collaboration with national governing bodies.
New for 2026-27, athletes over 16 will receive access to the You+ membership, designed to promote holistic health and wellbeing and centred around individual needs.
Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder, Colin Jackson CBE, will continue to fulfil the role of ambassador for the scheme, working alongside the Elite athletes to make sport more accessible within local communities.
Colin said: “I am incredibly passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow just months away, I am more excited than ever to support athletes of all ages and from all disciplines to achieve their dreams.
“My role is to pass my knowledge, experience and expertise on to the next generation of super-talented athletes. Seeing these future champions flourish throughout each year as they gain confidence fuels my excitement for what’s to come.”
Over the past nine years, the Sporting Champions scheme has poured more than £2million into young athletes, proving its commitment to grassroots sporting excellence.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, no fewer than 26 Sporting Champions competed, taking home nine gold, six silver and eight bronze medals collectively.
Phil Bowers, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We are delighted to be providing exceptional support to this year’s cohort who have been accepted on Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme.
“The profound impact Sporting Champions has on emerging talent from Wythenshawe each year is always amazing to see, and we are excited to be supporting more athletes than ever on their journey to sporting success.
“As a leisure provider working in partnership with Wythenshawe Forum Trust, we feel it is important to cater for all sections of the community. We hope to continue making a real difference to our athletes’ success and are excited to see what success stories the scheme will bring this year.”
