As celebrations continue to mark athlete successes at the Paris Olympics, the GLL Sport Foundation has been proudly counting the impact of its GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) - the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme. 

An impressive group of 117 past and present supported athletes are competing at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Many train in legacy venues operated by GLL, including the Lee Valley Velo Park, Lee Valley White Water Centre and Manchester Aquatic Centre. 

This time round in Paris, the medal haul was 38 medals – including Golds for Triathlon’s Alex Yee and Men’s 4 x 200m Swimming’s Tom Dean,  a Silver for Men’s Synchro Dive pair Tom Daley and Noah Williams, Silver for Kayak Cross’s Joe Clarke and Silver for Women’s 4 x 100m Relay’s Daryll Neita, Dina Asher-Smith, Desiree Henry, Imani-Lara Lansiquot and Bianca Williams. 

There were more Bronzes for Women’s 4 x 400m Relay's Victoria Ohuruogu, Amber Anning, Laviai Nielsen and Lina Nielsen - and for Women’s Synchro Divers Scarlett Mew-Jensen and Andrea Spindolini-Sirieix, and Double Bronze for Kayak Slalom Cross and K1’s Kimberley Woods. 

The GSF is the brain-child of GLL, the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering sport, health and leisure facilities across 250 venues. In partnership with SportsAid,  the GSF works directly with the established national ‘talent pathways’ of Sport National Governing Bodies. It also numbers over 70 local authorities, regional governments and sports organisations who partner the scheme across the UK. 

From 2023, a new partnership with Switch the Play Foundation has added wraparound wellbeing support to the list of benefits award holders receive on top of training access to GLL gyms and sports centres and financial bursaries for kit, nutrition, travel and physiotherapy. 

In 2024 the Foundation is supporting over 2,300 athletes of which an incredible 87% receive no other funding or support.   

The programme has been an essential lifeline to the athletes in the cost of living crisis and an inspiration for other young people in local communities to take up a sport at grass roots level.  

Since its inception in 2007, the GLL Sport Foundation has provided 28,000 athlete awards worth £15m. 

GSF Ambassador and Paris 2024 Bronze Medal winner Rowan McKellar, who competed in the Women’s Eight Rowing said:  "The Paris Olympics was an amazing event from start to finish.

"I've had the best two weeks of my life. Thank you to GLL for their continued support throughout my journey. " 

 
Legacy operator hails the positive effect on grass roots community engagement 

What also makes GLL’s Sort Foundation different to other programmes is its focus on using athletics to inspire physical activity and sport across local communities at all levels from grass roots to performance. 

Peter Bundey, GSF Chair stated: “We are delighted that these GSF-supported athletes delivered such fantastic medal-winning performances at the Paris Olympics. 

“Their achievements allow us to inspire so many other young people across our local communities to follow their dreams from the grass roots upwards whether they want to follow careers in competitive sport or just play with their local team.  

“The GSF highlights the essential role physical activity has in supporting health and wellbeing and as a charitable leisure and cultural social enterprise we welcome the new Government’s commitment to growth and long-term opportunity in the sector.” 

GSF Patron Sally Gunnell said: "Providing a lifeline to remain in sport has been a game-changer for many young people on our programme - especially in the cost of living crisis. 

"Working alongside national talent pathways, GSF remains committed to maintain significant levels of support to UK athletes.  That is good for national sport, the athletes and getting more young people - regardless of their background - to have the choices and chances offered by sport and physical exercise."  

GSF athletes are also represented at the Paris Paralympic Games (28 August – 8 September) with Para Swimmers Tulley Kearney and Grace Harvey, Para Wheelchair Tennis Lucy Shuker, Para Table Tennis Aaron McKibbin and Para Cycling Matthew Robertson and Blaine Hunt all in medal contention in Paris.  

For full details on GSF supported athletes and how to apply for future funding, please visit  GLL Sport Foundation - Athlete Support Programme

Paris medallists supported by the GLL Sport Foundation achieved 7 x Golds, 9 x Silver and 22 x Bronze medals. 

GSF Athlete medal success at Paris 2024 Olympic Games: 

Scarlett Mew Jensen Diving - 3m synchro Team GB Bronze 

Kimberley Woods Canoe Slalom Team GB Bronze 

Noah Williams Diving - 10m Synchro Team GB Silver 

Tom Daley Diving - 10m Synchro Team GB Silver 

Kieran Bird Swimming - Mens 4x200m freestyle Team GB Gold 

Tom Dean Swimming - Mens 4x200m freestyle Team GB Gold 

Jack McMillan Swimming - Mens 4x200m freestyle Team GB Gold 

Andrea Spendolini-Siriex Diving - 10m Synchro Team GB Bronze 

Alex Yee Triathlon Team GB Gold 

Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne Rowing - Double sculls Team GB Bronze 

David Ambler Rowing - Men's 4 Team GB Bronze 

Ollie Wynne-Griffith Rowing - Men’s pair Team GB Silver 

Emily Craig Rowing - lightweight women's sculls Team GB Gold 

Rowan McKellar Rowing - Women’s 8 Team GB Bronze 

Heidi Long Rowing - Womens 8 Team GB Bronze 

Holly Dunford Rowing - Women’s 8 Team GB Bronze 

Tom Digby Rowing - Men’s 8 Team GB Gold 

Morgan Bolding Rowing - Men’s 8 Team GB Gold 

Samuel Reardon Athletics - 4x400 mixed relay Team GB Bronze 

Amber Anning Athletics - 4x400 mixed relay Team GB Bronze 

Laviai Nelson Athletics - 4x400 mixed relay Team GB Bronze 

Alex Yee Triathlon - mixed relay Team GB Bronze 

Kimberley Woods Kayak Cross Team GB Bronze 

Joe Clarke Kayak Cross Team GB Silver 

Dina Asher-Smith Athletics - 4x100 relay Women Team GB Silver 

Desiree Henry Athletics - 4x100 relay Women Team GB Silver 

Imani-Lara Lansiquot Athletics - 4x100 relay Women Team GB Silver 

Daryll Neita Athletics - 4x100 relay Women Team GB Silver 

Bianca Williams Athletics - 4x100 relay Women Team GB Silver 

Jeremiah Azu Athletics - 4x100 relay Men Team GB Bronze 

Noah Williams Diving 10m Individual Platform Team GB Bronze 

Georgia Bell Athletics - 1500m Team GB Bronze 

Lewis Davey Athletics - 4x400 relay Men Team GB Bronze 

Sam Reardon Athletics - 4x400 relay Men Team GB Bronze 

Amber Anning Athletics - 4x400 relay Women Team GB Bronze 

Laviai Nielsen Athletics - 4x400 relay Women Team GB Bronze 

Lina Nielsen Athletics - 4x400 relay Women Team GB Bronze 

Victoria Ohuruogu Athletics - 4x400 relay Women Team GB Bronze 

 

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