Hosted by Variety, the Children’s Charity, the awards evening celebrated and championed the achievements of disabled sportspeople, from emerging talents to outstanding individuals and teams.  

The event saw the launch of Variety’s Voices for Change advocacy campaign, which will work with children and young people across the U.K. to spotlight the challenges faced by disabled and disadvantaged children in accessing sports. 

Comedian and presenter, Adam Hills MBE, hosted the awards and was joined by a number of inspiring sportspeople and celebrities including one of Britain’s most decorated Paralympians, Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson. 

And the winners are…

ECB Award for Rising Star 

Georgia Routledge for her remarkable achievements in para-standing tennis, including her victory as the First ITF World Champion.  

Yoo Capital Award for Innovation 

Every Body Moves – powered by Toyota – offers a new way to discover inclusive local opportunities to become more active.

Access Card Award for Outstanding Team Achievement 

PR2 2x (Gregg Stevenson & Lauren Rowles) who claimed a thrilling Paralympic gold in the mixed double sculls in Paris.

Dreams Award for Inspiration 

Lloyd Martin who inspired the nation when he ran into the record books at the London Marathon earlier this year, setting a new Guinness World Records title for the youngest person to complete a marathon (II2).  

Glaukos Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement 

Stephen Miller MBE for his incredibly illustrious career in disabled sport. Earlier this year, the three-time Paralympic champion called time on a glittering career in which he won 34 major international medals across more than two decades at senior level.  

The Kartik Foundation Award for Unsung Hero 

Luiz Faye is a pioneering figure in adaptive boxing, working tirelessly to make the sport accessible and empowering individuals with disabilities.   

American Golf Award for Unsung Hero 

Mark Dewdney for his invaluable dedication to adaptive rowing. Mark is a highly respected Adaptive Head Coach at Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club and as Chairman of the Association of Adaptive Rowing Clubs. 

Variety Award for Lifetime Achievement 

Dame Sarah Storey is a record-breaking British Paralympian, renowned for her achievements in both swimming and cycling. Over four Paralympic Games, she won 15 medals in swimming, including five golds. 

Variety Award for Lifetime Achievement 

Sophie Christiansen CBE has competed in four successive Paralympic Games, gaining an incredible ten medals along the way – who this year announced her retirement from an incredible career.  

Variety International Award 

Rhiannon Clarke is an Australian Paralympic athlete known for her accomplishments in para-athletics, specifically in sprint events. Despite her physical challenges, she has excelled on the international stage, competing in the T38 classification, designated for athletes with coordination impairments. 

LTA Award for Sports Icon 

Alfie Hewett OBE is a nine-time Grand Slam singles champion, 21-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Rio 2016 men’s singles and doubles silver medallist, Tokyo 2020 men’s doubles silver medallist, and four-time World Team Cup gold medallist 

@sohoplace Award for Charity Champion 

George Blackshaw is an inspiring British adaptive golfer and prominent advocate for disability inclusion in sports. Having lost his right forearm and right leg in an accident as a toddler, he has demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill on the golf course, competing at a high level and promoting adaptive sports along the way.  

Laurence Guinness, CEO of Variety, the Children’s Charity, said:

“Last night’s Variety Disability Sports Awards was an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of disabled sportspeople across the UK – including those at a grassroots level through to those on the biggest stage of all, the Paralympics – and it was an incredibly inspiring evening.”