Up-and-coming athletes from the Coalville area are set to gain much-needed support as part of a sports talent development programme.

Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme, now in its eighth year, has helped more than 5,000 athletes to achieve their sporting potential by providing free access to its 230-plus leisure facilities, including the Ashby Leisure Centre and Lido.

Alongside free access to Everyone Active centres, Sporting Champions will also receive valuable mentoring and guidance from an impressive panel of Elite athletes, some of whom look set to compete at Paris 2024.

This includes Sam Khogali - the long jump silver medallist at the 2024 UK Athletics Indoor Championships – who trains at the Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre.

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.

Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson will also continue to support the scheme through his role as an Ambassador, working alongside the Elite athletes to make sport more accessible within local communities.

Colin said: "I'm passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission. 

"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."

Ashby Leisure Centre and Lido. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

The Sporting Champions scheme has poured more than £2million into young athletes across the country, proving its commitment to grassroots sporting excellence.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, no fewer than 30 Sporting Champions competed, taking home five gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

James Naylor, Everyone Active's area contract manager, 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 Leicestershire on their journey to success.

"It's fantastic to see how the scheme has expanded over the years, now providing more than 1,000 athletes nationwide with access to top-quality training facilities and support.

"As a leisure provider working in partnership with local councils, 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."

Councillor Michael Wyatt, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "Our partnership with Everyone Active aims to make sport, activity and wellbeing available to everyone, and it's great to see athletes supported in this way.

"With this scheme, we can support and exemplify the next generation of sporting excellence in North West Leicestershire."

To find out more about the Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme, visit www.easportingchampions.com or follow @easportingchamps on Instagram. For further information on Everyone Active, click HERE.