UK Athletics has announced a total of 19 athletes who will make up the next cohort of the Paralympic Futures Programme for 2025-26.
The Programme – which is supported by Nike and delivered in partnership with the Home Country Athletics Federations – is focused on supporting athletes and coaches who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at future Paralympic Games. Through a series of camps and experiences, and with the support of dedicated staff, the Programme provides opportunities for athletes to develop the skills and abilities required for international senior success and forms part of the pathway towards the World Class Programme (WCP).
Futures athletes enjoyed success in New Delhi at this year’s World Para Athletics Championships with Victoria Levitt (pic) taking gold in the T44 100m and silver in the 200m. Bebe Jackson also took bronze in the 100m with breakthrough performances. The Novuna performance of the Championships went to Finlay Menzies who claimed his first global medal in the T72 100m, claiming bronze to add to the country’s great medal winning tradition in the frame running events. He joins the Paralympic Futures programme for the first time.
Other athletes who have been selected as part of the 25/26 cohort and competed at their first senior worlds in India include Bree Cronin, Arthur Milles and Amy Thompson. Previous graduates from the programme include Paralympic T20 1500m champion Ben Sandilands, and world medallists Funmi Oduwaiye and Kevin Santos.
Coral Davis, Paralympic Pathway Manager, said: “After another successful year for the Paralympic Futures Programme, with several athletes stepping up with their performances on the senior stage, we are delighted to announce the next cohort for 2025-26.
“The Programme, and the tailored services we provide to athletes and their coaches, has proven to be invaluable to the unique development of future potential Paralympians. We continue to be encouraged by the engagement of those on the programme, and that many have graduated to the World Class Programme in recent years. We look forward to working with the new additions to this cohort as well as continuing to support those who are developing in the pathway.”
Paralympic Futures Programme 2025-26:
Year 1
Bree Cronin (Josh Clark, Cardiff) - F44 Discus
Daniel Gladman (Leigh) - T64 100m
Joshua Hartley (Job King, Coventry) - T53 1500m
Ryan Hannah (Joe McDonnell, Kettering) - T44 100m
Euan Murray (Graham Mattacks, Team Bath) - T64 100m
Finlay Menzies (Graeme Reid, Corstorphine) - T72 100m
Charlie Price (Bob Purcell, Gloucester) - T72 100m
*Guide – Harvey King
Year 2
Rachel Leck (Catarina Hallden, Jersey) - F38 Shot Put
Ella Richards (Hayley Ratcliff, Torbay) T20 1500m
Cameron Thores (Allan Hamilton, Stirling University) - T47 100m
Freddie Wallace (Michelle Rea) - T12 100m
Year 3
Bebe Jackson (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) - T44 100m
Michael McCabe (Christine Parsloe, Sutton and District) T54 1500m
Arthur Milles (Trevor Cummings, St Marys Richmond) - T13 1500m
Rebecca Scott (Paul Keeble, Stevenage and North Herts) - T47 100m
Leon Serning van der Linde (Alex Currie, Loughborough Students) - T47 100m
Amy Thompson (Mark Edwards, Liverpool) - F41 Shot Put
Transition
Kyle Keyworth (Michael Fennell, Manchester Harriers) - T35 100m
Victoria Levitt (Mansfield) - T44 100m
