Society is supporting medallists of future

TALENTED athletes are to get financial support from a charity and a building society.

Melton Building Society has committed to supporting four potential Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games stars with SportsAid.

Kelechi Aguocha (athletics), Amber Haycock (para swimming), Xavi Salcedo (triathlon) and Millie Van Nierop (netball), who are aged between 13 and 20, were nominated to SportsAid by their sport’s national governing bodies.

Each athlete will receive an annual award of £1,000 to contribute towards costs such as travel, accommodation and equipment.

Simon Taylor, chief executive of Melton Building Society, said: “We are proud to be supporting the next generation of athletes.

“The past year has been a challenging period for sportspeople, who have had their ability to train and compete massively restricted, so we are delighted the society is able to help provide opportunities for sporting talent to realise their full potential.”

SportsAid, which was founded in 1976, supports more than 1,000 young athletes – generally from ages 12 to 18.

Over the last 45 years, more than £50 million in awards has been distributed.

Recipients include Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Mo Farah, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Dame Sarah Storey, Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Katherine Grainger and Daley Thompson.

Laura Kenny, Ellie Simmonds, Loughborough gold medallist swimmer Adam Peaty and Dina Asher-Smith also received awards.