Ellie Downie shortlisted for BEDSA Young Sports Person of the Year Award

The 15-year-old has been selected by a panel of experts as a finalist for the 2016 Youth Sport Trust Young Sports Person of the Year Award.

The award is one of ten catagories at the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) to be held at London’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House on February 6.

Ellie said: “It is an honour to have been nominated for a British Ethnic Diversity Sports Award just a year after my sister won the Sportswoman of the Year Award. I have had an amazing year and am very grateful for every success.”

The younger of two sisters, Ellie, had a 2015 to remember when she made history by becoming the first Team GB athletes to win an all-round medal at the European Games.

Ellie received the bronze medal after scoring 56.623 points across four apparatus and got to experience the competition alongside fellow Team GB gymnast, and older sister, Becky.

Ellie had another huge moment when she won the 2015 BBC Young Sports Personality Award over some stiff competition.

Sporting Equals CEO Arun Kang, who founded the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards, said: “To do something at the age of 15 that no other Team GB gymnast has done is an incredible achievement for Ellie, and for this reason it was an obvious nominee for the Youth Sport Trust Young Sports Person of the Year Award.”

The expert panel includes Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi MBE, former West Bromwich Albion favourite Brendon Batson OBE and former olympic sprinter Jason Gardener MBE.

Phil Chamberlain, Director of External Relations at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “At the Youth Sport Trust we believe it is vitally important to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to access to, and progress through, PE, sport and physical activity, whatever their ability, background or community.

“We are really pleased to sponsor an award focussed on highlighting the personal achievement of a young sportsperson and how they can be a role model for others.”