The BEAA are delighted to confirm the four nominees for the May Athletes’ Athlete of the Month award.
In an athlete-decided competition that celebrates both sporting success and personal accomplishments, the nominees will be voted on by their peers currently and formerly on the World Class Programme.
The latest shortlist comprises Amber Anning (athletics), Charlotte Henshaw (para-canoe), Ali Smith (para-athletics) and Jess Varley (modern pentathlon).
First, Amber achieved a major personal milestone by running the 400m in under 50 seconds – becoming the third-fastest female Brit to do so. At just a tenth of a second off the British record she has continually improved her times after a debilitating back injury in 2023. She also helped to break the 4x400m relay NCAA record with Arkansas Track & Field.
Charlotte was nominated by a teammate after securing her ninth and tenth world title at the Para-canoe World Championships in Hungary. Following elbow surgery in September 2023, she won the women's KL2 and VL3 finals as compatriot Hope Gordon finished second in the latter event.
Ali, who competes with MS, was hospitalised following the 2023 Para-Athletics World Championships, an event which made her “genuinely think my career was over.” This year however she returned to the world stage after being voted co-captain by her teammates, reaching the T38 100m final and claiming silver with the universal relay team.
Finally, Jess claimed a silver medal in the Pentathlon World Cup in Bulgaria to secure her first World Cup podium in over a year. Her achievement followed “a rocky couple of years” after fracturing her spine by falling from a horse. She suffered with a migraine during her first World Cup back but did enough to qualify for the Pentathlon World Cup Final in Turkey later the same month with her performance in Sofia.
Current and former elite athletes can vote for their Athlete of the Month here, with the winner to be confirmed shortly.
Former elite athletes can get involved with more in the world of high-performance sport via the British Elite Athletes Alumni platform – which they can register for here!
Good luck to everyone shortlisted!
