Two Ashfield athletes have been recognised by a national sporting scheme and will receive development training from some of the country’s leading athletes. Figure skater Carla-Leigh Sisson and taekwondoin Lucas Ng have been selected for Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme.
Teenage taekwondo athlete Lucas Ng won gold in the European Championships in Austria last November. Cara-Leigh Sisson won three national figure skating gold medals over the past year.
Both athletes train at Ashfield District Council leisure centres: Ng at Hucknall and Sisson at Lammas. The centres, as well as the new Kirkby Leisure Centre, are managed by Everyone Active, a national sports centre operator.
The two Ashfield athletes have been accepted on Everyone Active’s sports talent development programme and are set to gain much-needed support as well as coaching from some of Britain’s elite sports stars.
More than 5,000 athletes have benefited from Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme over the past seven years. Those selected receive free access to more than 230 Everyone Active leisure facilities. They will also receive valuable mentoring and guidance from an impressive panel of Elite athletes, some of whom look set to compete at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The scheme’s all-star line-up of decorated Olympians and Paralympians includes Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, Lutalo Muhammad, Richard Kilty, Lauren Steadman and Maisie Summers-Newton, while new to the panel for 2024 is GB sprint star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
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.
Sisson said: “I am so honoured to have been selected for the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme, along with some of my training mates. The scheme is so vital as it allows our athletes to access important training facilities that support our on-ice performance at a reduced cost, especially since our sport can be expensive and is currently rather underfunded.”
Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson is a scheme ambassador. “I’m passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission”, he said. “With the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in Paris this summer, the programme takes on even greater significance in 2024. Seeing these future champions flourish fuels my excitement for what’s to come.”
Everyone Active’s contract manager, Lorenzo Clark, said: “Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme has been very successful in providing exceptional support to emerging talent and we are delighted to be once again supporting athletes from Ashfield on their journey to success.
“As a leisure provider working in partnership with Ashfield District Council, 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 the relaunch of the scheme will bring this year.”
- More details about the scheme can be found at easportingchampions.com.
