8th May 2009

McGrath Is Heroes’ Hero

 

25 October 2008

Jordan McGrath, of Birchfield Harriers, has been crowned the UKA and Original Source Heroes’ Hero.

Presenting the talented youngster with the award and a cheque for £1,000 was Beijing Olympic medallist Tasha Danvers and representative from Original Source, sponsors of the programme, Philippa Heywood.

The 18-year-old 400m athlete was selected for the award following a brilliant season taking bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India earlier this month, helping the men’s 4 x 400m relay team to silver at the World Junior Championships in Poland earlier in the season and setting a new personal best of 46.54 at the Loughborough International.

The title also pays recognition to McGrath’s continued commitment to the UK Athletics and Original Source Heroes Project including media duties and correspondence.

Celebrating his success, McGrath said: “Wining the Heroes’ Hero title and receiving the extra money from Original Source will be a great help to me financially. I’ll be spending the money on kit and a travel expense which helps me get to and from training and competitions.

“Being part of the UK Athletics and Original Source Heroes scheme has been a great experience.  It has been great meeting Tasha and seeing the work she has to put into getting her medal at Beijing.  The scheme has introduced me to the media and has taught me how to interact with them and the sponsors, which has better equipped me for what’s to come in the future.  Focussing on 2012 is obviously a massive step from the bronze I got at the Commonwealth Youth Games but I feel it’s achievable. My focus is now competing for Great Britain in the next few years and getting to the Olympics in London .”

Beijing 400m hurdles bronze medallist, Tasha Danvers, was proud to present the award to McGrath, she said: “The UKA Heroes Project supported by Original Source is creating the future of British athletics. It gives the athletes the training they will need in the future on how to react in the public eye. These types of events are great practice on how to represent their country, so by 2012 the athletes will be confident and used to pressurised situations and they will be able to perform better on and off the track.

“Sponsors like Original Source, show that brands care about grassroots sport. We, as professional athletes, care about the future generations and their success, not just those who will be competing in London 2012 but beyond then as well. We want young people off the streets, and sport keeps them healthy and their minds active.”

McGrath is one of only six young athletes from across the UK to be selected to take part in the programme, designed to help young athletes on their way to represent Great Britain at World or Olympic level.

Original Source has provided all six Heroes with a bursary throughout 2008 to help with training, travelling and kit costs, along with Original Source washing and bathing products and branded kit.