At the heart of the GB High Performance system, sustained success is about valuing people who have the skills, passion and commitment to excellence contributing to medal winning success that inspires the nation.
This year we launched the inaugural PLx awards with the purpose of recognising those individuals, teams and sports who have made a significant contribution to the GB High Performance system.
This evening (26th November) the winners were announced at the PLx awards ceremony, held at The Principal Hotel in Manchester. They are as follows:
Biggest turnaround or breakthrough in High Performance Sport
- Jan Bartu – Modern Pentathlon
"This has been the most successful non-Olympic season for Pentathlon GB. We have created a very strong teamwork and much more cohesion between the coaches and athletes, that has been the major reason for the success this year."
Coach who has made a special impact on High Performance in a sport
- Tracey Neville MBE– Netball
"I came in to post in 2015 and one of our targets was to try and professionalise the sport in the UK. I always wanted to make a difference, to make consistency and see this program flourish. I know this team will move on, and I cannot wait to applaud their success’s that this team will have for the future."
Support Staff/ Practitioner from any specialism who has made a special impact on High Performance
"I was always bit nervous what I could potentially contribute to the team but after a few months in I saw there are lots I can contribute too by helping performance, helping the coaches and practitioners in the sport. It is going to be busy 8/9 months leading into the Games, but we are all really excited here as we see the potential, we have a in this world class group to work with."
Innovation Award – Innovation which has made a significant improvement in High Performance Sport
- Kieran Carr – Para-archery
"I don’t think you can beat the feeling watching someone do something that they physically shouldn’t be able to or told they can’t do, the happiness it brings to me and everyone else to see them shoot an arrow is great."
Collaboration and Team Working – Best practice from a sport demonstrating impact in improving High Performing Sport performanc
- Loughborough National Centre Team - British Swimming
Chris Spice - National Performance director: "Loughborough has moved from being number three five years ago to rank number one in a relatively short space of time which is a phenomenal achievement. That’s principally down to the work and trust and belief they have in each other to constantly push and challenge each other to push to find that next 100th of a second."
Social Impact Award – Sport, Staff or Athlete that has positively impacted on their Community
"‘Slalom inspires’ has helped make me see the bigger picture, in the darker times when life is a bit hard knowing that you are contributing to someone else’s life has been so empowering and life changing for me."
UK Sport Director of Performance Chelsea Warr said “Our High-Performance system is the envy of the World without a shadow of doubt this is due to the incredibly talented athletes being so well supported by highly expert, caring and hugely committed leaders, coaches and practitioners. We were blown away by the number of nominations we have received for the inaugural year of the Plx award. It was inspiring to hear the fantastic and phenomenal stories of achievement, collaboration, innovation and impact that is taking place across the High-Performance system in supporting our Nations most talented athletes.
Congratulations to both our fantastic award winners and those who have been successfully shortlisted for an award. For those whose nominations were unsuccessful this time, huge credit to you for being recognised by your peers on your achievements”
To read more about our PLx award winners for 2019 go to www.bit.ly/plxawards2019