22nd October 2018

KARE ADENEGAN CROWNED 2018 BBC YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Kare Adenegan (coach: Job King, club: Coventry Godiva) topped off a fine 2018 as she was crowned BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year at the Radio One Teen Awards on Sunday.

Adenegan has enjoyed a real breakthrough season in the sport, winning her first ever European title in the T34 100m in August, as well as making history by becoming the first female T34 athlete to go under 17 seconds over the distance, setting one of the stand-out world record of the year.

Upon collecting her award, she said:

“Wow – this is so amazing. I can’t believe I have won this award! It is so prestige. It is an honour; to be alongside some of the names of people who have won this award before is incredible.”

After being presented the award by former winner Claudia Fragapane and Jermaine Jenas at Wembley Arena, she added:

“To celebrate all the amazing things young people are doing goes to show it shouldn’t be underestimated. Thank you so much for this award.”

Competing in British teams since the age of 14, Kare has won medals at Paralympic and world level over the last four years, but in 2018, she showed real improvement to breakthrough on the global scale.

Her performance – a 16.80 clocking – at the Muller Anniversary Games in July prompted sports fans in the UK and around the world to see her potential to be a global champion. Gold and silver at the Europeans a month later, followed.