Amy Hunt (coach: Joe McDonnell; club: Charnwood) and Karim Chan (John Shepherd; Charnwood) have been rewarded for their incredible successes in 2019 by being named on the shortlist for SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award.

Hunt and Chan are among a shortlist of ten athletes selected from around 1,000 rising British stars, supported by SportsAid, across more than 60 different sports during 2019 with the winner to be announced at a glittering ceremony in London on Tuesday 19 November.

Hunt, 17, has enjoyed a truly fantastic year setting a world under-18 record of 22.42 in the 200m, which also smashed Dina Asher-Smith’s (John Blackie; Blackheath & Bromley) British record and placed her as the second quickest Brit over the distance this year, before going on to claim double gold at the European Under-20 Championships.

Chan meanwhile underlined his status a true rising star in the sport by defending his long jump title at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland in the summer with a huge personal best leap of 6.70m.

Launched in 2006, the SportsAid One-to-Watch Award looks to shine a spotlight on the achievements of Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects with a judging panel including Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, Katherine Grainger, set to choose the winner.

Hunt and Chan will be hoping to follow the path of fellow winners from athletics Hollie Arnold (David Turner; Blackheath & Bromley), Jodie Williams (Stuart McMillan; Herts Phoenix), Sally Brown (McDonnell; Charnwood) and Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) who won the Award in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2014 respectively.

Hunt said: “It’s a really well-known honour and to have my name alongside the other nominees – who are all amazing athletes – makes me so proud of everything I’ve achieved. My biggest competition in 2020 is likely to be the World Junior Championships where I’d love to add to my European gold, but it’s also an Olympic year, and while it’s not firmly on my mind, I’d never rule it out.

“It would be amazing to be a professional athlete but nothing’s guaranteed and my A Level exams are among my biggest priorities next year. I study chemistry, English literature and music. I’m hoping to go on to study English at university next year. It can be tough to manage the workload at times, but I just try and remember how the good times felt. It helps to have other things to think about too.”

Chan said: “The nomination means so much to me – knowing that all the hard work I’ve put in has been worthwhile and I can build from here to progress to the next level. I came through an 18-month period without any progress. It was my lowest start of the year but my jump coach worked with me on all the basic techniques in February – it was like learning everything from the beginning again.

“Retaining my title with a new PB made me feel proud and it renewed my confidence. My ultimate ambition is to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the Paralympics in 2024 and beyond. I want to become one of the best long jump para athletes in the world. I also work at a special education school for children with disabilities. I would like to enrol onto a school sports apprenticeship in the future.”