Rising sports stars in Sheffield earn support from prestigious talent scheme fronted by Olympians and Paralympians
Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has helped more than 6,000 athletes to achieve their sporting potential
Aspiring athletes in Sheffield 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 Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), Concord Sports Centre, iceSheffield, Springs Leisure Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre and Heeley Pool & Gym in Sheffield, run in partnership with Sheffield City Council.
This year, a record 1,700 athletes have been accepted on the renowned scheme. Among those to secure their places in Sheffield are:
City of Sheffield diver, 25-year-old Olympic bronze medallist Yasmin Harper, who won Team GB’s first medal of Paris 2024 in the women’s 3m springboard synchro with Scarlett Mew Jensen. Yasmin will use Ponds Forge International Sports Centre to train for the European and World Championships.
21-year-old figure skater Alana Pang, a five-time British Champion, four-time British silver medallist and two-time bronze medallist. Alana is one of the only athletes in the UK to have achieved national titles in both free skating and ice dance and is currently ranked within the top five in the world for solo ice dance. A member of the Great Britain squad since 2016, Alana now has high hopes for the upcoming season.
Alana will train at Ice Sheffield for skating and the English Institute of Sport for off-ice gym, strength and conditioning training.
Commenting on her sporting goals for the future, the athlete said: “I am currently in the midst of my competitive season and looking forward to upcoming international events in Helsinki, Amsterdam and Washington DC, where I aim to deliver my strongest performances and compete for gold. After finishing as a silver medallist at last year’s British Championships, I am determined to claim gold and secure another national title.
“Beyond this season, my focus is on long-term progression and reaching the very highest level in the sport. I am committed to developing every aspect of my skating – technical skill, artistry and consistency – so I can move from a top-five ranking to becoming the number one solo ice dancer in the world.”
Alana also credits the Sporting Champion Scheme for being instrumental to her sporting career. She added: “The Sporting Champions scheme has been a vital part of my journey since I was around ten years old, when I trained at Lammas Leisure Centre with the goal of winning my first national championships and taking my first steps into international competition. Over a decade later, the scheme continues to play an integral role in my skating career and development.
“As a five-time British champion and multiple international gold medallist, I feel incredibly fortunate to have consistent access to high-quality facilities such as Ice Sheffield and EISS. This support has enabled me to train at a high level, refine my technical skills, and prepare more effectively for competitions throughout the season.”
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.
Lorenzo Clark, Everyone Active’s partnership 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 Sheffield 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 Sheffield City 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 success stories the scheme will bring this year.”
To find out more about the Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, visit ea-champions.com/sporting-champions/ or follow @easportingchamps on Instagram. For further information on Everyone Active, visit www.everyoneactive.com