The UK Athletics Futures Programme, brought to life by Nike impressed across the globe in 2025, with athletes delivering standout performances from European medals to senior debuts to World Championship appearances. In total, 20 Futures athletes pulled on the senior Novuna Team GB & NI vest during the year.

Supported by Nike and delivered in partnership with the Home Country Athletics Federations, the programme showcased the ability of junior athletes to excel on senior stages. This was most notable with five athletes travelling to Tokyo for the World Athletics Championships and four competing in New Delhi at the World Para Athletics Championships.

Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester); Joy Eze (Mike Donnelly, Gateshead); Innes FitzGerald (Gavin Pavey, Exeter Harriers); Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet); and Abigail Pawlett (Ashley Bryant, Trafford AC) stepped up alongside seasoned team members in Japan.

At the World Para Athletics Championships, all four Futures athletes made their senior debuts. Bebe Jackson (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies); Victoria Levitt (Mansfield); Arthur Milles (Trevor Cummings, St Mary’s Richmond); and Amy Thompson (Mark Edwards, Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton) delivered impressive performances, with one race producing a standout moment.

The T44 100m brought home two medals for Novuna GB & NI, with Jackson earning bronze and Levitt crowned World Champion in 13.22 seconds.

Speaking after her medal winning race, Levitt said: “I’m still shell-shocked. I can’t believe this is what I’ve walked away with. Being world champion is probably the scariest thing I’ve ever heard – it will take some time to sink in.”

Her success didn’t stop there, as she also claimed silver in the T44 200m.

The European Championships at both senior and junior levels also provided key opportunities for Futures athletes to shine. At the start of 2025, the European Athletics Indoor Championships, Newnham contributed to two relay medals: silver in the women’s 4x400m and bronze in the mixed 4x400m on her senior debut.

There was similar Futures success at the World Athletics Relays, Eduan and Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow) helped secure women’s 4x100m gold. Joe Ferguson (Richard Kilty, Sheffield & Dearne); Kissiwaa Mensah (Prince Duwai, Chelmsford); and Jeriel Quainoo (Blackheath and Bromley) also reached the podium, winning bronze in the mixed 4x100m.

Speaking as part of her episode of the ‘Futures Mini-series’ on the 4x100M Gold

Wedderburn-Goodison said “I knew we could do something really good, I just focused on my individual goals and everyone else did as well. The way we won was just so special.”

Performances at the European U20 and U23 Championships were another highlight, with Futures athletes reaching 50% of their event finals in Tampere and Bergen. At the U23s, 40% of Futures athletes competing won medals, rising to 60% at the U20 Championships including 15PBs.

Charlotte Henrich’s 400m gold (Nigel Stickings, Invicta East Kent) was a highlight of the European U20s. The standout from the competition was Innes FitzGerald’s double gold, breaking the 32 year old 3000M Championship record and a comfortable 5000M win which solidified her step up to the senior team in Toyko.

“I am really pleased to come away with the championship record running a pretty decent solo race. It was a tough ask to do both, the 5000m and the 3000m are hard races so I am really pleased to come away with both titles,” she said.

At the European U23s, Eduan won gold in the 200m, and Newnham took gold in the 400m hurdles, setting a British record in the process.

Newnham said: “The people around me fuel me with so much confidence. It’s hard to hold onto that without putting pressure on myself. Everyone kept saying this was mine to win, and subconsciously that gave me the belief I could do it.”
At both the European U23s and U20s GB & NI ranked second in the medal tables with the UK Athletics Futures Programme helping contribute to the impressive overall ranking. With 15 new athletes announced for the 2025–2026 Olympic Futures Programme and 19 for the Paralympic Programme, alongside a busy year ahead, including a home European Championships – it is an exciting time for the rising talent within British Athletics.

Reflecting on the success of 2025, UKA Head of Performance Pathways Dan Wagner said: ““Throughout 2025 the Futures Programme athletes and their coaches have once again demonstrated their potential. Breakthrough senior selections during the indoor season set the tone for the year, while integration of Futures athletes into senior GB & NI squads provided exposure to senior level competition for developing athletes, as well as highlighting the transition from the pathway to global podium.

The programme’s mission is to engage and understand athletes, their coaches, and their networks – adding value to their efforts by offering support, experiences and opportunities. Every journey is unique. While multiple Futures athletes and recent graduates made their debuts at the senior World and World Para Athletics Championships this year it has been equally pleasing to see athletes demonstrate their potential and readiness for senior transition, evidenced most recently by several being named on UKA’s Olympic and Paralympic World Class Programmes for 2025/26.”

Previous graduates who have excelled in 2025 include world and European indoor 60m champion Jeremiah Azu (Helen James, Cardiff); world indoor 400m champion Amber Anning OLY (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove); World Championships 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood); World Championships 800m bronze medallist and 2024 Olympic Champion Oluwafunmilola (Funmi) Oduwaiye (Josh Claire, DSW Para Academy).