Eight of the borough’s rising sports stars have been handed a bursary to help them achieve their dreams.

The Waltham Forest council sports bursary scheme is now in its third year and provides recipients with a cash value of £3,000 to go towards specialist coaching, essential equipment and other expenses incurred when competing at an elite level.

The bursary scheme was inspired in 2012.

In return for using the Council’s Construction Skills Centre in Leytonstone to distribute Olympic kit during the Games, the Australian Olympic Committee funded 10 sports bursaries to the tune of £30,000.

Through the bursary young athletes are given access to professional coaches from the University of East London (UEL).

Reece Prescod, 19, is in the third year of his bursary and has high hopes to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

He is currently ranked first in Europe for the 200m event in the under 20s category.

“The Waltham Forest Sports Bursary has been brilliant, and without it I would not have had access to some amazing facilities and coaches. I feel very fortunate, and this is going to be a massive year for me,” he said.

Ryan Nichols, who competes at a national level in disability swimming and currently holds the British record for the S14 category in the 200m backstroke.

Ryan is currently on track to qualify for Rio in both the 100m and 200m backstroke.

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Winners this year were

 

Jermaine Hamilton – 100 metres

 

Corrinne Humphreys – 100 metres

 

Kashiff Jones – High Jump

 

Tyesha Mattis - Gymnastics

 

Ryan Nicholls – Swimming

 

Anthony Oshodi – Shot Put

 

Reece Prescod – 200 metres

 

Youcef Zatat – Shot Put