TSF News

The latest news from the sport feed editors

We’re thrilled to share series 20 of The Game Changers podcast – Fearless Women

written by Hugh

We’re thrilled to share series 20 of The Game Changers podcast, which features an incredible range of guests – all talented, inspiring women changing the game in sport.Links to each episode are included in this newsletter. You can also find The Game Changers on all podcast platforms or listen from the Fearless Women website. Please do share these episodes with others who might enjoy hearing from these brilliant women.
Thanks to Sport England who support The Game Changers with a National Lottery Award.

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DIANE EDWARDS (MODAHL), Commonwealth gold medallist and Olympian whose career was torn apart when she was wrongly accused of doping in 1994.

In this powerful episode of The Game Changers, Diane reveals the devastating cost of fighting to clear her name, why she’s still waiting for an apology from UK Athletics, and how she found the resilience to return to the international stage and create life-changing opportunities for young people through sport.

Listen to Diane Edwards

LUCY ADAMS has been at the heart of skateboarding for decades, winning national titles, launching her own boards, coaching and commentating at the Olympic Games.
Lucy led the sport as Chair of Skateboard GB and now shapes its future as its Progression Lead.

Our conversation is raw, inspiring and funny. Lucy talks about breaking into a male-dominated sport and battling for recognition, being a queer role model and how she uses her experience to create a future where all young people feel welcome in a skate park.

Listen to Lucy Adams

When the image of ultra-runner SOPHIE POWER breastfeeding her three-month-old baby during a gruelling 106-mile race went viral, her life’s mission changed. The moment sparked a global conversation about motherhood, sport and equality and inspired Sophie to found SheRACES and challenge endurance sport’s male-first design.

From running 347 miles across Ireland to smashing a 48-hour treadmill world record, Sophie is redefining what’s possible and making sure no woman is left behind.

Listen to Sophie Power

Chief of Women’s Rugby at World Rugby, SALLY HORROX has an incredible track record in transforming women’s sports.
Former director at England Netball and an advisor to the Football Association and UEFA, Sally helped create both the Netball Super League and the Women’s Super League (WSL).

In this fascinating episode, Sally shares the lessons she’s learned across football, netball and tennis, and how they can shape rugby’s global future.

Listen to Sally Horrox

England netball legend EBONI USORO-BROWN (formerly Beckford-Chambers) wore the red dress 117 times across an extraordinary 15-year career, including that unforgettable Commonwealth Games Gold for England in 2018.

Recently appointed President of England Netball, Eboni shares her trailblazing story on and off the court, having combined elite sport with a career in law, championed dual careers, and inspired so many through her return to professional netball after becoming a mother.

Listen to Eboni Usoro-Brown

SAMMI KINGHORN’S journey from a life-changing accident to Paralympic glory is nothing short of extraordinary. This phenomenal Scottish wheelchair racer – now TV presenter – won World, European and Commonwealth medals before capping it all with Paralympic Gold at Paris in 2024.

Sammi talks openly about the mental battles behind the medals and how anxiety has shaped her racing career, the ongoing fight for equality and representation in para sport and how she’s finding purpose beyond the track as she redefines what success really means.

Listen to Sammi Kinghorn

Having shone again for her country in the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Scottish star RHONA LLOYD shares her remarkable journey from a young girl defying stereotypes to becoming one of Scotland’s fastest and most dynamic players.

Rhona talks with raw honesty about the heartbreak of twice missing out on Olympic selection, the incredible tightness of the ‘trauma bonded’ Scottish team and the highs and lows of life as a professional female athlete in 2025. It’s a powerful story of resilience, self-discovery and redefining what it means to be strong.

Listen to Rhona Lloyd

Former professional player, now pioneering football coach CARLA WARD shares the unfiltered truth about life in football, leadership and the huge challenges female coaches face in the modern game.

Carla reflects on what women’s football in England could learn from the set up in the US in terms of supporting players and coaches, and also shares it’s like to lead the Irish national side towards their dream of World Cup success.

Listen to Carla Ward

23rd September 2025 0 comment

Pick Your Sport TSF News

FCN & UK Athletics Join Forces to Drive Positive Change in International Athletics

written by Hugh

The Female Coaching Network (FCN), the world’s leading organisation dedicated to empowering female coaches, has announced a partnership with UK Athletics (UKA) to drive positive change in how athletics coaches are recruited, developed, and retained for Great Britain & Northern Ireland international teams.

This collaboration is part of the global project Advancing Female Coaches in International Athletics: Systemic Change Starts With Selection, led by FCN and supported by the International Athletics Foundation, Professor Leanne Norman, and the Women’s International Athletics Coaching Forum.

The project aims to establish fair and transparent staff selection processes that prioritise athlete needs, while increasing opportunities and representation for female coaches worldwide.

Together, FCN and UKA will develop a new standard for coach recruitment by professionalising selection policies, building on UKA’s existing best practices, and collaborating with key stakeholders to create a strategic, sustainable framework within high-performance athletics.

Member Federations from across the globe will also be invited to participate, further extending the project’s impact worldwide.

“This partnership is an opportunity to build on UKA’s strong foundations in staff selection and demonstrate how transparent, athlete-centered processes can transform our sport. Female coaches remain vastly underrepresented on the world stage, yet their impact is clear and vital. By working with the Female Coaching Network, UKA is showing real leadership — proving that change is not only possible, but essential for the future of athletics.”

Vicky Huyton, Founder of the FCN – Cover photo courtesy of FCN

5th September 2025 0 comment

TSF News

GTWS 2025 to be decided at Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale

written by Hugh

From October 10 to 12, the season champions will be decided in the high mountains of the Ledro Valley with a two-day competition format (time-trial prologue and main race)
Elhousine Elazzaoui leads the men’s ranking, closely followed by Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Kiriago, just 12 points behind; Madalina Florea tops a women’s ranking with five athletes within 50 points
Starting today, registrations are open for 200 amateur runners to compete alongside the professionals on the same course as the Grand Finale

After a demanding season and eight races that have taken the world’s best athletes across some of the planet’s most stunning natural landscapes, everything is still to be decided in the men’s and women’s overall rankings of the 2025 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS). And what better stage to crown the champions than the high mountains of the Ledro Valley, a natural area recognized by UNESCO’s MAB program for its extraordinary environmental value. From October 10 to 12, Ledro Sky Trentino will host the GTWS Grand Finale with a prologue and a race that will determine this season’s ultimate winners.

The GTWS Final follows a unique two-day competition format, with a prologue on the first day and the main race on the second. On October 10, both the men’s and women’s prologues will take place. In the prologue, athletes set off one by one in a time-trial format on a 6.9 km course with 550 meters of elevation gain. On October 11 and 12, the women’s and men’s races will be held respectively, covering a 22 km course with 1,800 meters of elevation gain.

The distinctive feature of the Grand Finale is that, for the overall standings, athletes get double points (400) compared to a regular race (200). For the final overall ranking, the three best results of the season plus the points earned in the Grand Finale are taken into account. This means the maximum score an athlete can achieve is 1,000 points.

Pieve di Ledro, on the shores of Lake Ledro, will be the epicenter of the weekend, hosting the athlete presentation (Thursday, October 9), as well as the start and finish of both the prologue and the main race. A giant screen will be set up there to follow the competition, along with an expo village featuring outdoor and sports exhibitors. The course, which preserves the essence of the traditional Ledro Sky race, is a technical and scenic rollercoaster between Cima Parì, Cima Sclapa, and Cima d’Oro, crossing trenches and remnants of the First World War.

The men’s season has been a constant battle between Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) and the Kenyan duo Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Kiriago (Run2gether On Trail). The Moroccan leads the overall standings with 600 points after victories at Zegama-Aizkorri (Spain), Broken Arrow Skyrace (United States), and Tepec Trail (Mexico). However, with only 12 points separating him from Kipngeno and Kiriago, the Grand Finale remains wide open.

In the women’s standings, no fewer than five athletes are within 50 points of each other, all with a real shot at claiming the final victory at Ledro Sky Trentino. Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott Running) tops the table with 576 points (one win at Il Golfo dell’Isola – Italy – and two runner-up finishes at Broken Arrow Skyrace and Kobe Trail – Japan). She is closely followed by Spaniards Sara Alonso (Asics) and Malen Osa (Salomon), with 566 and 540 points respectively. Kenyan athletes Joyce Njeru(Nnormal) and Caroline Kimutai (Salomon Milimani Runners) round out the top five with 538 and 532 points.

1st September 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Toyota (GB) extends Official Mobility Partnership with Special Olympics GB

written by Hugh

Toyota (GB) has reinforced its support for inclusive, grassroots sport by extending its Official Mobility Partner agreement with the charity Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) for a further two years.

Prior to this national partnership, Toyota has had a longstanding relationship with the Special Olympics movement globally, serving as a regional partner for Special Olympics Europe Eurasia since 2020 and a global partner of Special Olympics International since 2017.

Toyota’s partnership with Special Olympics GB, established in 2023, has made a significant impact in helping transform the lives of people with intellectual (learning) disabilities. At the end of last year, the Toyota Coaching Fund was created to help Special Olympics GB athletes and volunteers upskill and develop their coaching credentials, completing qualifications across Special Olympics GB’s 27 competition sports. As of the end of July, a total of 74 applications from across the country have been received for the fund. This is well on track to achieve a target of supporting 100 coaches.

Toyota (GB) has supported career development initiatives for Special Olympics GB athletes, including a bespoke employability programme for members of its Athlete Leadership Team. It also secured the return of the National Indoor Athletics Competition in London last year, through dedicated event funding.

In 2023, Toyota (GB) spearheaded a national awareness campaign for Special Olympics GB during the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. The campaign featured creative Team Special Olympics GB branding across prominent outdoor media sites, via fellow partner Ocean Outdoor, as well as a Fan Park at Westfield London.

“Toyota (GB) has been fantastic in enhancing development opportunities for Special Olympics GB athletes both on and off the field of play,” said Laura Baxter MBE, Chief Executive of Special Olympics GB. “This has been more than a partnership – it has been a shared commitment to building an inclusive future and we’re proud to extend this relationship for a further two years.”

Scott Thompson, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director, commented: “At Toyota we believe in the power of sport and mobility for all to transform people’s lives. It’s wonderful to see the results of our partnership so far, in providing more opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to experience the benefits of coaching and competition provided by Special Olympics GB. We’re looking forward to achieving even more over the next two years.”

14th August 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Team GB celebrate Skopje 2025 Closing Ceremony after 22-strong medal haul

written by Hugh

Yesterday evening, Bo Guttormsdottir-Frost, Coen Gilbert and Evan McPhillipsled Team GB into the Closing Ceremony of the Skopje 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), marking the end of a six-day competition where Team GB returned 22 medals.

Guttormsdottir-Frost and Gilbert carried the flag into the Jane Sandanski stadium in Skopje, while McPhillips led the team in Osijek, Croatia. The trio were chosen not only for their performances on the field of play, but also for proving to be outstanding ambassadors for Team GB.

Guttormsdottir-Frost was selected as flagbearer for proving to be an exemplary role model to her teammates. On the court, she ended the 3×3 basketball tournament as Great Britain’s top point scorer as they made history as the nation’s first team in the discipline at an EYOF, and off it she was a constant beacon of positivity and support.

She said: “It’s been such an honour to be here with Team GB and help the girls do the best we can. I have so much respect for everyone here and how much work they’ve put in get to this competition, so I’ve really enjoyed sharing their happiness and joy.

“I really enjoyed the closing ceremony and walking across the stage with Coen and the flag was such an incredible feeling because I never thought I’d be in a situation like that.”

Likewise, after narrowly missing out on bronze, it was everything away from the field-of-play that led to the selection of judoka Gilbert as flagbearer. His bright personality, infectious attitude and commitment to bringing the team together shone bright throughout the week.

The 16-year-oldsaid: “Judo is obviously an individual sport, but I’ve really enjoyed being around others, supporting them and trying to learn as much as possible.
“It was a huge honour to represent everyone out here in Skopje and back home by carrying the flag.”

And in Osijek, Team GB’s gymnastics squad enjoyed a range of success over four days of competition, with McPhillips selected as flagbearer after winning 3 gold medals in the team all-around, individual all-around and floor.

McPhillips said: “I was incredibly proud to be selected as the flagbearer. I’ve had an amazing week to say the least.

“Winning three gold medals has been incredible. I have no words really. I’m just really proud of what I have been able to achieve and experience.”

Guttormsdottir-Frost, Gilbert and McPhillips were told of their flag bearing honours by Team GB Chef de Mission Rachel Smith in front of the other athletes and support staff.

Smith said: “The whole team have done so well this week and should all be extremely proud of themselves. I’m delighted that Bo, Coen and Evan accepted the invitation to represent and lead the team out at the Closing Ceremony of Skopje 2025.

“As Chef de Mission, I couldn’t ask for a better example of what we look for in our athletes than Bo. Her excellence on the field of play was clear to see, but she also proved to be a fantastic teammate for everyone at Team GB when away from the court.”

“Coen was exceptional throughout the Games. Everything from his determination and confidence before competition, to his genuine interest in, and high hopes for, the rest of the team. We hope he continues to be the brilliant person he has shown himself to be, and enjoys plenty of success down the line.”

“The three gold medals speak for themselves, but Evan brought a special energy to the team environment which has no doubt had a massive influence on our gymnastics success.”

Alongside Guttormsdottir-Frost, Gilbert and McPhillips, Smith also commended the standout performances of Austyn Manley after he won five medals in the pool, and Isha Mekala and Kalyan Manoj, who brought home Team GB’s first badminton medals at an EYOF in over 25 years – including the first ever Team GB gold in the boy’s event from Manoj.

View every result from Skopje 2025 EYOF here.

27th July 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Team GB names flagbearers for Skopje 2025 Opening Ceremony

written by Hugh

Orla White, Austyn Manley and Uzair Chowdhury have been named as Team GB’s flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony of the Skopje 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).

With the seven-day Festival spanning sixteen venues across North Macedonia and Croatia, the city of Skopje will host the Opening Ceremony this evening (Sunday 20 July), with athletes based in Croatia’s Osijek able to take part in a smaller concurrent event. White and Manley will lead the Team GB delegation into the Ceremony in Skopje, while Chowdhury will carry the flag in Osijek.

Mountain bike athlete White was delighted to be selected, commenting: “I wasn’t expecting to be chosen for this in the slightest, so it’s hard to put what I’m feeling into words, but I’m so excited.

“Being put forward for the role makes me think that my hard work is being recognised and I’m doing the right things, so I really want to continue that this week.”

Manley, who starts his Skopje 2025 in the 200m individual medley on Tuesday 22nd, said: “I’m honoured to be selected as flagbearer because it’s a prestigious role that not many people get the chance to do .

“I think it’s going to be the most amazing experience and I just want to make the most of it before getting stuck into competition.”

And Harpenden-born Chowdhury, who recently became the youngest-ever parallel bars champion at the Junior European Gymnastics Championships, said: “To be selected for Team GB already feels so surreal, but to be chosen as a flagbearer on top of that makes my heart buzz.”

Chowdhury and his teammates follow in the footsteps of Olympians Ruby Evans and Abi Martin, who both represented Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2022 before their selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last summer.

Each of the Skopje 2025 flagbearers were nominated by their respective team leaders for being outstanding ambassadors for their sports and best displaying the Team GB values, before being selected by Team GB Chef de Mission, Rachel Smith.

Smith commented: “To be selected to lead your country and team out at an Opening Ceremony is a massive honour. Orla, Austyn and Uzair are amazing ambassadors for their sports and Team GB. We are extremely proud of them all and hope that they will remember this moment for many years to come.”

Skopje 2025 runs from 20 – 26th July , with Team GB’s 54 young athletes competing in 10 of the 15 disciplines on the programme: artistic gymnastics, badminton, basketball 3×3, canoe slalom, judo, mountain bike, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo.

Follow all of the action and latest results on TeamGB.com or @TeamGB on all social media platforms.

20th July 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Team GB confirm athletes selected for Skopje 2025

written by Hugh

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has today announced the 54 athletes selected to represent Team GB at the Skopje 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).

Running from the 20th – 26th July, Team GB’s young athletes, all aged between 13 and 18, will compete in 10 of the 15 disciplines on the programme: artistic gymnastics, badminton, basketball 3×3, canoe slalom, judo, mountain bike, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo.

It is the largest squad Team GB have selected for an EYOF since 2009, with the majority of athletes taking to the field-of-play in venues across the North Macedonian capital, while the cyclists will be competing a short distance away in the country’s second largest city Kumanovo and the gymnasts set up in Osijek, Croatia.

EYOFs play an important role in the development of young British athletes, providing crucial multi-sport event experience and guiding them towards realising their Olympic ambitions as they compete alongside over 4,000 athletes from 48 countries.

Team GB will be featuring in basketball and canoe slalom for the first time at an EYOF, with seven athletes competing across the two disciplines.

Basketballer Irene Oboavwoduo was delighted to make the squad: “It’s always an honour to represent Great Britain when competing but being selected for Team GB specifically takes it to another level and that feels amazing.

“I’ve never been to a multi-sport event like this before, so it feels very different. I’m really excited to meet lots of different people from different backgrounds and sports.”

This year’s British delegation will follow in the footsteps of some of Team GB’s most recognisable stars who themselves represented Team GB at youth events before going on to compete at a senior Olympic Games, including Nile Wilson, Dina Asher-Smith, and Duncan Scott, who’s eight Olympic medals make him Britain’s most successful EYOF alumni.

These names provide huge inspiration for many, including 15-year-old swimmer Kaiden Hitchins, who said: “I’m over the moon to be selected for Team GB. I’m sure I could speak for every British athlete when I say it’s one of those things you dream about happening.

“It feels surreal to be following in Duncan’s [Scott] footsteps, but hopefully I can use this experience as a huge stepping stone for the rest of my career like he did.”

Rachel Smith, who captained Team GB’s rhythmic gymnastics team during London 2012 and has now been selected as Chef de Mission for Skopje 2025, said: “It is a genuine honour to be named Chef de Mission for Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje. For many of our athletes, this will be their first opportunity to wear the Team GB kit and connect with the Olympic Movement. A truly memorable experience and significant milestone in any athlete’s journey.

“The EYOF represents more than just a competition; it is where many of our Olympians began their journey with Team GB. Skopje 2025 will provide our next generation of athletes with a valuable introduction to a multi-sport environment and a platform to continue exploring their own version of extraordinary. I am looking forward to seeing the team in action and hope it proves to be a memorable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.”

Two-time Olympic swimmer Anna Hopkin will take on the role of Athlete Ambassador for Skopje, offering advice and support as the athletes come together as one Team GB.

The gold medallist from Tokyo 2020 said: “I am very proud to be named the Athlete Ambassador for the Skopje European Youth Olympic Winter Festival. I have always been very passionate about sport and Team GB is such an incredibly special team. To have the chance to hopefully inspire and pass on knowledge to the next generation is something that I am really looking forward to.”

“Having been just like our young athletes working hard and dreaming of the future, I know exactly how they are feeling. So, I’ll be looking to give them some useful information to make sure they can best use this opportunity to further their careers.”

Full squad:

Artistic Gymnastics –

Helena Finc, 14, Bedworth
Lexi Holmes, 14, Cardiff
Jenitha Johnson, 13, Milton Keynes
Uzair Chowdhury, 15, Harpenden
Zakaine Fawzi-Mccaffrey, 17, Nottingham
Evan McPhillips, 17, Bury

Badminton –

Ishasriya Mekala, 16, Cardiff
Kalyan Manoj, 16, Milton Keynes

Basketball (3×3) –

Bo Guttormsdottir-Frost, 16, East Moseley
Haley Wright, 17, Valencia
Irene Oboavwoduo, 17, Manchester
Maisie Keyes, 17, Stockport

Canoe Slalom –

Chloe Holmes, 14, Northwich
Jake Mitchell, 15, Hereford
Sophie Forster, 15, Nottingham

Judo –

Coen Gilbert, 16, Bathgate
Jack Milligan, 16, Wallasey
Lenny Tancock, 17, Bishop’s Stortford
Sara Coni, 16, London
Taylor Chrisp, 16, Blyth
Vasiliy Menshykov, 17, Inverurie

Mountain Biking –

Luke Trafford, 15, Holmfirth
Orla White, 17, Tavistock

Road Cycling –

Daniel Davies, 16, Penarth
Finlay Storrie, 16, Bridgend
Melanie Rowe, 16, Banchory
Peggy Knox, 16, London
Rose Lewis, 16, Birmingham
William Coles, 15, Llandovery

Swimming –

Austyn Manley, 15, Derby
Benjamin Beale, 15, Durham
Darcey Smith, 15, Fareham
Gisella Silano, 15, Haslemere
Jasmine Hall, 15, Old Harlow
Josephine Lawn, 15, Bromley
Kaiden Hitchins, 15, Smethwick
Lili Mundell, 15, Galashiels
Lois Child, 15, Leeds
Lydia Cordle, 14, Derby
Nikolai Sisnett, 15, Glasgow
Olivia Robins, 15, Stourbridge
Patryk Przyczyna, 15, Eastbourne
Tyler Stone, 15, Norwich
William Wilson, 14, Leeds
Xander Tovey, 15, Dunchurch

Table Tennis –

Abraham Sellado, 15, Bradford
Sienna Jetha, 16, Watford

Taekwondo –

Antonio Buonaiuto, 16, London
Fabio Carvalho, 14, London
Lauren Dunsmore, 17, Cumbernauld
Lily Kingsley, 17, Southampton
Max Cartwright, 16, Larbert
Monica Ilieva, 15, Craigavon
Paige Vincent, 15, Poole

10th July 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Over 100,000 children take part in Team GB’s Olympic Day celebrations

written by Hugh

Over 100,000 children from schools across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland took part in this year’s Olympic Day celebrations through a brand-new partnership between the Team GB Foundation and The Daily Mile Foundation.

Held on the 23rd June each year, Olympic Day is an annual worldwide celebration of the Olympic Movement, aiming to motivate and empower young people to embrace sport, physical activity, and the Olympic Values of friendship, excellence and respect. This Olympic Day, the Team GB Foundation joined forces with The Daily Mile Foundation and junior parkrun to encourage even more children and young people to get moving.

The Daily Mile is an initiative that supports schools in getting children active for 15 minutes each day, be it running, wheeling, or walking with their friends as part of the school day. Today [Monday 23rd June] saw over 100,000 children from 439 schools across the nation taking part in an Olympic Day Daily Mile, with many getting the opportunity to do so alongside a Team GB athlete.

Among the athletes visiting schools was three-time Olympic and World Champion Max Whitlock, recently named as the Team GB Foundation’s first ambassador, who visited a school in the northwest of Manchester. He was joined by Team GB long jumper Abigail Irozuru, who was born and raised in the city and has recently been elected Vice Chair of Team GB’s Athletes’ Commission. Max and Abigail met with pupils, shared their own stories of how being active has supported their wellbeing throughout their careers, and took part in the Daily Mile themselves.

Max Whitlock, Team GB Foundation ambassador, said: “Seeing how much energy and excitement the children put into celebrating Olympic Day today was a brilliant reminder of how important it is to just move and have fun. You don’t have to be an athlete to feel the benefits of being active – we want to help kids across the country build great habits for life and show them how getting moving can help make them healthier and happier.”

Sunday 22nd June saw Olympic Day themed junior parkruns taking place across the country for the second year running, following a successful partnership launch in 2024. Athletes made surprise appearances at a selection of these events to help inspire local participants, including Olympic Champion Kate French in Kent and Paris 2024 bronze medallist Lewis Richardson in Colchester.

Jen Rouse, Managing Director of the Team GB Foundation, said: “Olympic Day is such a powerful reminder of what sport can do: it builds confidence, resilience, and a real sense of belonging. At the Team GB Foundation we harness the power of the Olympic Games, the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Values to support the health and wellbeing of young people across the UK, and teaming up with both the Daily Mile and junior parkrun has been a brilliant way for us to help even more children feel inspired to get active and build a lifelong connection to sport.”

Gordon Banks, Global Director of The Daily Mile, said: “It’s a joy to see so many children across the UK getting active together on Olympic Day through The Daily Mile. Our mission is simple: to help every child enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity, no matter their background, ability or fitness level. Events like this highlight how something as small as 15 minutes of daily movement can have a transformational impact on children’s wellbeing and classroom experience.”

Image courtesy of TeamGB

24th June 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Toyota (GB) extends its commitment to ParalympicsGB’s Every Body Moves campaign

written by Hugh

Toyota (GB) has extended its gold partnership with ParalympicsGB through to Los Angeles 2028, continuing a relationship that will now span more than a decade.

Toyota’s support has powered the groundbreaking Every Body Moves platform, which aims to empower disabled people to find a sport or physical activity that is right for each individual, demonstrating Toyota’s commitment to mobility for all.

The platform is co-produced with disabled people and features more than 45,000 inclusive sessions. It showcases activity providers through its club of the month features and hosts a range of virtual workouts, hints and tips. It also lobbies to improve accessibility standards for physical activity listings throughout the sector and places the lived experience of disabled people at the heart of its strategy to enable even greater numbers to enjoy the wide range of benefits of becoming more active.

The campaign was rebranded from Parasport to Every Body Moves in 2023, drawing on insight from the Lived experience Advisory Board (LAB), and comprises of disabled people with a wide range of impairments and varied experiences of accessing sport and physical activity. The LAB has helped co-produce the evolution of the campaign allowing it to reach and resonate with disabled people more widely.

Since then, Every Body Moves has gone from strength to strength, achieving a number of notable milestones: –

It is the nation’s largest online destination connecting people with thousands of inclusive sporting and physical activities drawing on the lived experience of disabled people
Activity provider listings have increased from fewer than 5,000 in 2017 when the platform was launched, to peaks of 45,000 during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
During Paris 2024 more than 84,000 users searched for inclusive opportunities online as the Every Body Moves platform was promoted in collaboration with Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage

83 per cent of people who have engaged with Every Body Moves said they were more likely to take part in physical activity at least once a week

David Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB, said: “Toyota’s ongoing support of Every Body Moves is a purpose-driven partnership making a tangible difference to the lives of disabled people in the UK.

“Our mission is to champion inclusion and empower disabled people, regardless of their background or ability, to experience the wide range of benefits associated with becoming more active in whatever way works for each individual.

“We are incredibly proud of what Every Body Moves has achieved in showcasing inclusive sport and activities and could not have achieved so much without the unwavering support of Toyota.”

Toyota (GB) and ParalympicsGB’s Every Body Moves campaign won a Sponsorship With A Social Purpose award at the European Sponsorship Association 2025 ceremony, which showcases best practice in sponsorship across Europe.

Emma Johnson, Director Marketing, Toyota (GB), commented: “It’s great to see ever-increasing numbers of disabled people benefiting both physically and mentally from the Every Body Moves programme, through engagement in a wide range of opportunities to enjoy sports and inclusive physical activities. We’re looking forward to continuing our support through to 2028, as part of our commitment to ensuring ‘mobility for all’.”

14th May 2025 0 comment

TSF News

Wings for Life World Run Draws Record 310,719 Participants for Spinal Cord Research

written by Hugh

On Sunday, for the 12th time, the world came together to run for those who can’t, as nearly a third of a million runners, wheelchair users and professional athletes around the globe participated in the Wings for Life World Run. A record-breaking 310,719 participants of 191 nationalities set off simultaneously in 170 countries, running, walking or rolling to keep ahead of a moving finish line called the Catcher Car.

Jo Fukuda of Japan set a distance record for the event by reaching 71.67km as the men’s winner, while Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer achieved 59.03km in claiming the women’s title, becoming the country’s first-ever women’s global champion. And whether participants were everyday heroes or international celebrities, the funds they raised will help brilliant researchers take the next steps toward finding a cure for spinal cord injury.In the 2025 edition of the largest running event in the world, the runners and wheelchair users covered an average of 12.4km each, for a total distance equivalent to nearly 64 times around the equator.

Yet what they celebrated most was the fun and spirit of joining together for a good cause.A new single-year record of €8.6 million was raised, and as always, 100 percent goes directly to promising spinal cord research projects and clinical trials supported by the not-for-profit Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation.

Wings for Life CEO Anita Gerhardter said, “I am over the moon about the results of the Wings for Life World Run. One shared mission and so much love and energy from every corner of the world. With 310,917 world runners joining in, we raised 8.6 million euros for spinal cord research. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this day so special – whether you walked, ran, rolled, volunteered, or cheered us on. You’re the heartbeat of this movement. Together, we’ll find a cure for spinal cord injury. Thanks again and see you at the start line next year on May 10, 2026!“

Worldwide, participants ran individually with the Wings for Life World Run App or came together at one of 452 App Run Events (another record), which were held at a range of stunning locations, from within the Arctic Circle at Tromsø (NOR) to the vibrant bayfront in Miami (USA) and to Panama City (PAN), Cape Town (RSA), Madrid (ESP), London (GBR), Dubai (UAE), Tokyo (JPN), Sydney (AUS) and Rio de Janeiro (BRA). Others took part in one of the seven large-scale Flagship Runs held in Vienna (AUT), Munich (GER), Zug (SUI), Ljubljana (SLO), Zadar (CRO), Poznań (POL) and Breda (NED) – all joined by numerous high-profile sports professionals, performing artists and influencers.

For instance, the Catcher Car at the Flagship Run in Vienna was driven by two-time Olympic snowboard champion Anna Gasser, while in Poznań, ski jumping legend Adam Małysz was in the cockpit. In the unique Audio Experience of the Wings for Life World Run App, runners heard a celebrity driver of the Virtual Catcher Car encouraging them in a familiar language, such as former alpine skiing star and Dakar Rally winner Luc Alphand (speaking French), badminton sensation Tzu Ying Tai (traditional Chinese) and rock band frontman Ricky Wilson of the Kaiser Chiefs (UK English).

Many stars were running themselves, such as Red Bull Head of Global Soccer Jürgen Klopp (GER), skier Eileen Gu (CHN), surfing’s Carissa Moore (USA), hurdler Karsten Warholm (NOR), trials rider Fabio Wibmer (AUT), triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR), tennis players Dominic Thiem (AUT), gamer Masato ‘Bonchan’ Takahashi (JPN), rally racing’s Sébastien Loeb (FRA), paddler Jessica Fox (AUS), cycling’s Tom Pidcock (GBR), skateboarders Leticia Bufoni (BRA) and Ryan Sheckler (USA), father and son windsurfing athletes Björn Dunkerbeck (DEN) and Liam Dunkerbeck (ESP).

While the run is an exhilarating day out for participants of every fitness level, on the sporting side new chapters were written. Fukuda delivered a performance of historic proportions to claim his third global title. With an astounding 71.67km run, Fukuda not only shattered Tomoya Watanabe’s 2024 distance record, but also extended the world record by an incredible 1.58km. His performance was nothing short of a masterclass in ultra running, solidifying his place as a world-class winner.
“I’m really happy I won because I was absolutely determined to win again this year!”, Fukuda said after completing his monumental run.

The women’s competition also delivered a thrilling finish, with a historic breakthrough for Germany. In Munich, Pfeiffer became the country’s first-ever women’s global champion in spectacular fashion. Clocking 59.03km, she also earned the accolade of becoming only the second woman ever to surpass the 59km mark, coming remarkably close to the all-time distance record.
It was a magical moment for Pfeiffer, who fought hard through the final kilometers to secure the win and her place in the history books. Pfeiffer’s husband Hendrik also finished his race as the men’s winner at the Munich Flagship Run, and achieved fifth place globally.

“The first kilometers were really easy, but then after 30km it was really tough because I’m not running longer than 25km in my training. At every kilometer there were a lot of people who cheered for me, and that’s why I’m at 59km now!” Pfeiffer commented after securing her win.

In the Wings for Life World Run, everyone worldwide started simultaneously at 11:00 am UTC – which, for example, was 1:00 pm in Central Europe, 11:00 pm in mainland New Zealand and 4:00 am in Vancouver, Canada – so the participants experienced a variety of conditions. According to the official race weather forecaster, UBIMET, the hottest temperature recorded was in Dubai at 41°C and the coldest 6°C in Stockholm. Participants in Almeria faced wind speeds of 76km/h whilst the wettest conditions were recorded in the Red Bull Ring, Austria.

Since the first edition in 2014, a total of 1,870,253 Wings for Life World Run participants have raised a tally of 60.53 million euros. A total of 324 promising research projects and clinical trials have been supported by the Wings for Life foundation since its founding in 2004, all chosen through an exacting selection procedure.

The 13th edition of the Wings for Life World Run will take place on May 10, 2026. Registration for 2026 – including numerous App Run Events (with more to follow), all Flagship Runs and running individually with the Wings for Life World Run App – will open on November 5, 2025.

For more information, to receive notifications and to register: www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com.

Words & Image courtesy of Red Bull

4th May 2025 0 comment

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