UK Athletics has announced a total of 18 athletes that will make up the next cohort of the Paralympic Futures Programme for 2024-25.

The Programme is a proven pathway for those onto the Paralympic World Class Programme (WCP) and will welcome five newcomers for the next year. That includes Jersey discus thrower Rachel Leck (coach: Catarina Hallden, club: Jersey) and sprinter Cameron Thores (Francis Smith, Pitreavie), who made his World Para Athletics (WPA) Grand Prix debut back in June.

Among the six returning for a second year are WPA Grand Prix medallists from the past season, Michael McCabe (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District) and Arthur Milles (Trevor Cummings, St Mary’s Richmond), while seven are retained for a third year. Among those is recent Dublin Marathon winner Sean Frame (Walter Frame, Red Star) and international improver James Ledger (Matt Elias, DSW Para Academy).

The Programme – which is supported by Nike and delivered in partnership with the Home Country Athletics Federations – is focused on supporting athletes and coaches who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at future Paralympic Games.

Through a series of camps and experiences, and with the support of dedicated staff, the Programme provides opportunities for athletes to develop the skills and abilities required for international senior success and forms part of the pathway towards the WCP.

The Programme cohort for 2023-24 was extremely successful with Ben Sandilands (Steve Doig, Fife) one of the star performers following his world record and Paralympic gold in the T20 1500m in Paris. Elsewhere fellow Paralympic debutant Marcus Perrineau-Daley (Jake Foster, Weir Archer Academy) won silver in the T52 100m.

In total six of the 2023-24 cohort have graduated to the WCP – Sandilands and Perrineau-Daley to Podium level, Funmi Oduwaiye (Josh Clark, Cardiff & The Vale Schs) and Kevin Santos (Michael Utting, City of Norwich) to Podium Potential and Steven Bryce (Allan Bryce/Doig, Victoria Park City of Glasgow) and Maddy Down (Mike Bennett, Halesowen)  – who made her Paralympic debut in Paris – to Confirmation.

Coral Nourrice, Paralympic Pathway Manager, said: “After another successful year for the Paralympic Futures Programme, we are delighted to announce the next cohort for 2024-25. The Programme, and its services, have proven to be invaluable to the unique development of future potential Paralympians and we continue to be encouraged by the engagement from both athletes and coaches. It is fantastic to see those move onto the World Class Programme and we are looking forward to working with everyone in this latest cohort as we look to support their growth and development in athletics.”

Year 3

Sean Frame – T54 Marathon, Walter Frame, Red Star

Greg Kelly – (James Ledger Guide) T11 100m, Steve Ball, Glasgow Jaguars

Kyle Keyworth – T35 100m, Kesric Salmon, Manchester Harriers

James Ledger – T11 100m, Matt Elias, DSW Para Academy

Victoria Levitt – T44 100m, Owen McNally, Hyndburn

Kieran O’Hara – T20 1500m, Patrick Gahagan, Havering

Daniel Wolff – T20 1500m, Andrew Vaughan, Belgrave

Year 2

Bebe Jackson – T44 200m, Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies

Michael McCabe – T54 Marathon, Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District

Arthur Milles – T12 1500m, Trevor Cummings, St Mary’s Richmond

Rebecca Scott – T47 200m / Long Jump, Paul Keeble / Joe McDonnell, Stevenage & North Herts

Leon Serning – T47 100m, Alex Currie, Bristol & West

Amy Thompson – F41 Discus, Mark Edwards, Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton

Year 1

Brandon Ballard – T20 1500m, Denise Korkmaz, Huntingdonshire

Rachel Leck – F38 Discus, Catarina Hallden, Jersey

Ella Richards – T20 1500m, Hayley Ratcliff, Torbay

Cameron Thores – T47 400m, Francis Smith, Pitreavie

Freddie Wallace – T12 Long Jump, Michelle Rea, City of Lisburn