Personal Best Foundation welcomes Olympian and Gladiators star Montell Douglas as new Ambassador

Personal Best Foundation, the official charity of England Athletics, is delighted to announce that Olympian, former Team GB sprinter and Gladiators star Montell Douglas (Fire) has joined the charity as its latest Ambassador.

Montell brings a wealth of experience, inspiration and passion for helping young people discover the power of sport and physical activity. Through her ambassadorial role, she will support Personal Best Foundation's mission to create opportunities for children and young people from disadvantaged and underserved communities to enjoy athletics, build confidence and achieve their personal best.

Montell officially joins the Foundation during the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, and met children from the charity's recently launched Community Athletics Hubs during the opening session of the Championships on Monday 10 August at the England Athletics funetics Activation Zone.

The children who attended were among those benefiting from Personal Best Foundation's growing network of Community Athletics Hubs across Birmingham. The initiative has established free, inclusive athletics provision in some of the city's most underserved communities, with hubs now operating in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East, Castle Vale, Lozells, Ward End and Nechells. The programme provides free weekly sessions designed to help children develop fundamental movement skills, build confidence, make friends and enjoy being physically active in safe, supportive environments.

The hubs were launched as part of Personal Best Foundation's largest initiative to date, creating a city-wide network of community athletics opportunities ahead of the European Athletics Championships. Working alongside local community organisations, the programme seeks to address barriers that prevent many children from accessing sport and physical activity, while creating a lasting legacy for communities across Birmingham.

Through Birmingham 2026’s impact plan ‘Beyond’ - a programme created to inspire positive, lasting change across the region linked to the Championships - organisers are creating new opportunities for communities and amplifying existing initiatives, such as this one, that are already making a difference across the West Midlands.

Amy Weaver-Tyler, Foundation Manager at Personal Best Foundation, said:

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Montell Douglas as an Ambassador for Personal Best Foundation. Montell's journey, determination and positive influence make her an outstanding role model for the children and young people we support.

"Her passion for inspiring the next generation aligns perfectly with our mission, and we were thrilled to have her join us at the European Athletics Championships to meet children from our Community Athletics Hubs and see first-hand the impact these programmes are having across Birmingham."

Montell spent time with young participants at the funetics Activation Zone, took part in activities, met families and heard from children about their experiences through the Community Athletics Hubs programme.

Personal Best Foundation’s new Ambassador, Montell Douglas, said:

"I’m so proud to be a Personal Best Foundation Ambassador, not just because athletics has been the sport that I’ve loved my whole life, but also because of the powerful and impactful work that we can achieve together. I want to help the foundation create so many more opportunities, so much more fun, and lifelong memories.

“It’s about creating legacies, things that last way beyond the times and achievements. I have friendships that are 30 years old from athletics and I hope to be able to inspire more young people to find their personal best.

“It is amazing to see initiatives like the Community Athletics Hubs being able to come here and for children and young people to experience athletics and the European Athletics Championships on home turf. Hopefully this will inspire more kids or get them interested in athletics for the first time perhaps. It also gives them the opportunity to see role models, people who they might see on TV and think that might be them one day. It inspires them to try something new for the first time, but also have an amazing time supporting their heroes.”