The 2026 Track and Field Inclusion Awards celebrates in London

Paula Dunn MBE received the TAFi Recognition Award at the second Track and Field Inclusion (TAFi) Awards, which brought the athletics community together for an evening of celebration at The Ivy Club in London’s West End.

Dunn, a sprinter at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, became the first female head coach appointed by UK Athletics when she led the Paralympic programme after London 2012 Games. 

Under her leadership, the GB Paralympic track and field team returned from Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with its biggest-ever medal haul of 33 medals. She was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to athletics. She now is the performance director at UK Athletics, overseeing the performance programme.

TAFi co-founders, Joel Campbell and Michael Facey said Dunn was an inspiration and someone who embodied the spirit of the Awards.

“As we saw and heard in the evening, Dunn has been an inspiration her whole career; we’re just glad to be able to honour that endeavour with this recognition.

“A fantastic ambassador for British track and field, her influence is felt far and wide and we know she does everything with her heart fully invested. 

“We’d like to take the chance to congratulate all the winners and those that were nominated for a 2026 TAFi Award. Everyone has done their bit, and we’ll continue to celebrate that.”

The ‘Recognition Award’ is one of the TAFi legacy honours, which celebrate lasting contributions to the sport. Last year’s recipient was broadcaster and former sprinter Jeanette Kwakye.

Guests from across the sport filled the room, and the evening was hosted by returning host Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, the Channel 4 News sports correspondent, alongside Olympian and television personality Montell Douglas. 

Douglas is a former British 100m record holder and the first British woman to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Together, the hosts kept the evening warm and lively as athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers took the stage to collect their awards.

This year’s ceremony introduced a new category, ‘Technical Official of the Year’, recognising the officials whose work makes competition possible. 

Awards were also presented in the following categories: Para-Athlete of the Year (Male/Female), Athlete of the Year (Male/Female), Breakthrough Young Star of the Year (Male/Female), Coach of the Year, Unsung Hero, the Lloyd Cowan Bursary and the TAFi Recognition Award.

The 2026 Award winners:

1. Technical Official of the Year: Beryl Clay

2. Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Male): Bronson Hearn-Smith

3. Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Female): Charlotte Henrich 

4. Para-Athlete of the Year (Male): Zac Shaw

5. Para-Athlete of the Year (Female): Maddie Down

6. Athlete of the Year (Female): Jazmin Sawyers

7. Athlete of the Year (Male): Josh Kerr

8. Coach of the Year: Paul Wilson

9. Unsung Hero of the Year: Mark Shearman MBE

10. Lloyd Cowan Bursary Award: The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund

11. TAFi Recognition Award: Paula Dunn MBE

The awards were brought to life with the support of its partners, England Athletics, Scottish Athletics, Welsh Athletics and Nike, an extra special thanks to The Ivy Collection, host partner.  

“Garnering support from our sponsors from the very start has been humbling and exciting,” said Campbell and Facey.

“As co-founders we’d held onto the belief that TAFi was possible for over a decade before the inaugural celebration last year, so to see it come to life with such healthy support, delivering a second event, is a vision manifested.”

They added: “The future is bright for British track and field, there’s so much to look forward to celebrating, so many stories to amplify.

“We’re here for the long haul, athletics is the most inclusive sport in the world and with the support of our sponsors and partners, we’re going to celebrate that by recognising the people who enable it to happen.”

Chief Executive Officer of UK Athletics, Jack Buckner, said: “The Track and Field Inclusion Awards celebrate the people and organisations making athletics welcoming and accessible to all. 

“By creating opportunities for everyone to belong and thrive in the sport, they help shape a better future for athletics. We are proud to support and recognise their outstanding contribution.”