Anderson and Summers-Newton on BBC Young Sports Personality shortlist

October 15, 2018

Freya Anderson and Maisie Summers-Newton are among the contenders for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Ten athletes are on the shortlist for the prestigious prize and the winner will be announced at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards 2018.

Both Anderson and Summers-Newton have impressed with their performances this year.

Summers-Newton made her senior international debut at the World Para-Swimming European Championships in Dublin in August and won four medals – three of them gold.

The 16-year-old said: “To be considered means so much to me. Having previously seen so many inspirational and successful athletes win this award it’s quite a surreal feeling to be shortlisted.

“2018 has been such an amazing year for me and it was great to see all my hard work pay off and I can’t wait to see what next season brings!”

Fantastic season

British Para-Swimming National Performance Director Chris Furber added: “We are delighted for Maisie who has had a fantastic season.

“She has a very mature approach to everything and continues to develop, learning race by race. The shortlisting is also testimony to the partnership she has with her coach Jacquie Marshall and the great work they do.”

Anderson, 17, has also enjoyed a remarkable year, first competing for Team England at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and then representing Great Britain at the European Championships in Glasgow in the summer.

Bill Furniss, British Swimming’s Head Coach said: “Freya has been a really successful junior for Great Britain and demonstrated her world-class ability. She then attended her first senior meet in 2017 but the real breakthrough came at this year’s European Championships in Glasgow.

“She made a huge contribution to the team’s overall performance featuring in two gold medal-winning relays, in which she swam considerably faster than her lifetime bests.

“It’s fantastic that Freya’s sporting success this season has been recognised by the BBC in this way.”