Para-triathlete Dave Ellis and his guide Luke Pollard have been named the 2024 male Athletes’ Athlete of the Year.
Dave and Luke topped a vote among elite British athletes to win the prize, which is awarded by the British Elite Athletes Association on behalf of current and former World Class Programme athletes.
Recognition from their peers caps a fine 2024 for Dave and Luke who completed the remarkable feat of winning para-triathlon’s triple crown by taking gold in the PTVI event at the Paralympics, World Championships and European Championships.
“It is so nice that people have recognised us in this way,” said Dave.
“The shortlist had some great athletes on there and even just to make that nomination list was unbelievable. I’m blown away to actually win the award.
Luke added: “I didn’t really believe [we’d won] to start off with.
“We’re both pretty quiet athletes but it has been really good to put Dave’s story and Dave’s journey and our delivery of races out into the public.
“To be recognised by fellow athletes is absolutely unbelievable.”
Dave and Luke follow in para-rower Gregg Stevenson’s footsteps as the second winners of the male award.
They were nominated by a fellow athlete who wished to highlight the example they set to others, as well as their medal success, saying: “Dave and Luke are the most committed guys around. They are great teammates and role models for the sport of triathlon and their dedication over the years is so impressive.”
That dedication has seen Dave become the dominant force in the men’s PTVI discipline. His 2024 World Championship crown was the seventh of his career, while victory in the European Championships saw him claim a fifth gold medal.
Paris, however, was the ultimate goal in 2024. A bike chain failure ended the pair’s medal aspirations in Tokyo, but they could not be stopped this time around, winning by more than a minute to claim a first Paralympic title.
“The triple crown wasn’t really a focus,” Dave added.
“The main thing was Paris and focusing on that. Everything else was a bonus.
“Obviously in a big year you hope everything is going to go well and it ended up exceeding all expectations.
“I’ll probably struggle to ever top that year, but it was a brilliant year to have.”
Everyone at the British Elite Athletes Association sends their congratulations to Dave and Luke on winning this award and also to their fellow nominees Stephen McGuire (Boccia), Dan Pembroke(para-athletics), Benjamin Pritchard (para-rowing) and Duncan Scott (swimming).
The women's award winner will be revealed on Friday 31 January.
