Vote for our athletics stars featured in the Sporting Equals Awards shortlists!

The Sporting Equals Awards is a celebration of the achievements and contributions of ethnically diverse sports people in our communities. Following the period of nominations, we are really pleased to share that five stars from our sport have been shortlisted across the seven categories.

Athletics is the most well represented sport in the shortlist and now we are looking to the athletics family to show their support and vote for our athletes and coach.

Meet our shortlisted athletes/coach:

Leon Baptiste
(nominated for the England Athletics Coach of the Year)

Leon is a former elite athlete and double medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Following his successful career, he is now an athletics coach and is working with athletes across Olympic and Paralympic disciplines who have won medals globally. In his integrated coaching groups he has worked with Sophie Hahn, Zach Shaw, and Rio Mitcham to name a few.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson
(nominated for the Peloton Sportswoman of the Year)

Katarina is the World and Commonwealth heptathlon champion and has become another superstar in this event that we have enjoyed so much success in. As the main ambassador for funetics, KJT has helped the programme achieve equal representation from boys and girls - and through her discipline of heptathlon has ensured that the principles of Run, Jump, Throw appeals to all children, particularly encouraging more girls from ethnically diverse communities achieve their full potential in sport and physical activity.

Zharnel Hughes
(nominated for Sportsman of the Year)

Zharnel has had an incredible season, now holding the British record for both 100m and 200m and he was also the world’s fastest man entering the World Championships and the first British man to make the 100m podium in 20 years claiming bronze in Budapest.

Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker
(nominated for UK Sport Rising Star)

Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker's breakthrough 2022 season was highlighted by Commonwealth Games glory in Birmingham. The Essex speedster stormed to victory in the T47 100m inside a packed Alexander Stadium, with scenes of him celebrating with friends and family some of the most memorable of the Games. Emmanuel is also the youngest ambassador, aged 21, for the Personal Best Foundation and regularly visits schools in Essex and across London, giving talks to young people about the importance of physical activity, inspiring a generation of school children. He is passionate about supporting and encouraging young people facing inequalities, including those with disabilities, to experience the benefits of participating in athletics, physically, mentally and socially.

Ayesha Jones
(nominated for Youth Sport Trust Young Sports Person of the Year)

Ayesha once picked up a javelin out of curiosity at school and is now a Commonwealth Youth Games record holder and her throw of 52.79m puts her third on the UK all-time rankings. Ayesha secured a huge PB in Trinidad and Tobago and has an incredibly bright future.

How to vote

The voting process is a combination of both expert judges and the public, with the judging panel weighted 40% of the overall vote and the public 60%. This means that the public influence on the outcome is key. Voting closes on 6 October.

England Athletics has been a long supporter of Sporting Equals Awards (formally the BEDSA Awards) and we are proud to be sponsoring the Coach of the Year category this year. Our partnership with Sporting Equals supports our race equality priorities and overarching ambitions to grow opportunities for everyone to experience athletics and running, to enable them to reach their full potential.