Five Scots on UKA Olympic and Paralympics Futures Programme

Saturday 10th December 2022

Ben Sandilands in action in Aberdeen last summer (photo by Bobby Gavin)

UK Athletics has announced the cohort of athletes on the Olympic and Paralympic Futures Programme for 2022/23, which is supported by Nike.

And we are pleased to confirm five Scottish athletes are involved at this stage – Erin Wallace and Kane Elliott and the Para trio of Steven Bryce, Sean Frame and Ben Sandilands.

The Futures Programme is a key step in the pathway to support athlete and coach development with the aim of progressing to become a successful Senior athlete, and transition onto the World Class Programme (WCP) in the next cycle.

There is also support for those who have highlighted the potential to succeed at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Programme works with Home Country Athletics Federations (like scottishathletics) with the focus on supporting aspects of the athlete’s individual plan and, through a series of camps and experiences, providing opportunities to develop the skills and abilities required for senior international success.

Over the years, there have been a number of successful graduates, most recently including 2022 European 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson and Paralympic T20 1500m gold medallist Owen Miller.

Kane Elliott and Erin Wallace (photos by Bobby Gavin)

Of the five Scots involved, Paralympic silver medallist Sean Frame and Scottish Senior 1500m champion Ben Sandilands are new additions to the programme.

Olympics Futures Transition

Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North)

Olympic Futures Academy

Kane Elliott (William Sharp, Falkirk)

Paralympic Futures Academy

Ben Sandilands (Steve Doig, Fife)

Sean Frame (Joyce Rammell, Red Star)

Steven Bryce (Allan Bryce/Steve Doig, VP-Glasgow)

Birmingham 2022 medallist Sean Frame is added to the Para Futures programme with Steven Bryce (below) having come on last year (photos by Bobby Gavin)