‘Sporting Giants’ Unearths Over Fifty Hopefuls for 2012

Twelve months after Sir Steve Redgrave gave the call to arms in Trafalgar Square for tall people to come forward to try out as ‘Sporting Giants’ ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport have announced that 34 rowers, 11 handball players and seven volleyball players have been successfully integrated into British squads.

3,854 applicants replied to the launch for potential sleeping giants to apply for sport-specific testing if they were over 6’3” (men) and 5’11” (women), aged between 16-25 and had good, all-round athletic ability.

A vigorous testing procedure supported by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport saw two stages of testing at six centres for potential ‘Sporting Giants’ linking with GB Rowing’s World Class Start programme, sponsored by Siemens, four testing procedures for would-be handball players in association with British Handball and three talent ID camps for stars of the future within indoor volleyball and beach volleyball in association with the British Volleyball Federation.

Five-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave said: “I am delighted and astounded that so many members of the British public came forward with the ambition of competing for GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

“’Sporting Giants’ was about finding tall people who had the right characteristics to become stars of the future. It did that in bucket loads and some of the hidden talent that has emerged is incredible.”

One of the 3,854 hopefuls was sixth form student Chris Gregory, 17, born in Frimley Surrey and is currently studying at boarding school in Cheltenham. Chris underwent three testing stages and is now one of seven volleyball players participating in British Volleyball’s talent ID programme where he is currently undergoing a further talent confirmation phase training for both beach and indoor disciplines, having never played the sport before.

Chris said: “I am a passionate sportsman and would try my hand at anything. I love trying new sports and competing to as high a level as I can, whether it be rowing or gym, running or weight training and I’m excited about the prospect of where my new-found sport, through ‘Sporting Giants’ can take me.”
Kenny Barton, British Volleyball Programme Manager, said: “Chris is an exciting young prospect who, given the right support, may develop into a great asset for either the beach or indoor volleyball squads.
“His background in tennis and overall athletic ability has meant he is one of several athletes who impressed during the training sessions and physical tests which have been run during numerous ‘Sporting Giants’ camps over the year.
“It will be a challenging and exciting time ahead for Chris and the other six athletes who will be taken forward into the British Volleyball programme.”

The architect of ‘Sporting Giants’, UK Sport’s Chelsea Warr, was staggered by the response to the appeal and by the numbers that had made it on to performance programmes in the three nominated sports.

“’Sporting Giants’ has demonstrated the great desire amongst young British sportsmen and women to become Olympic athletes as well as the hidden talent that exists out there,” said the UK Sport Performance Consultant.

“We have been able to give a small number of them a key that may well unlock a door to an amazing Olympic journey. All those that have made it to this stage have the right ingredients to be thoroughbreds although, as with all Olympic athletes, a huge amount of hard work lies in wait for all of them and ultimately there can be no guarantees.”

Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said: "’Sporting Giants’ has proven to be a great success and I am pleased that it has unearthed potential British sport stars of the future.

“UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport and the three sports governing bodies involved deserve credit for making this scheme work and leaving no stone unturned in finding talent that could bring Team GB success at London 2012. I wish all the athletes that have come through ‘Sporting Giants’ the best of luck for the future."

For UK Sport, sportscotland, SVA and the English Institute of Sport, the hunt continues to unearth sporting potential for London 2012. UK Sport will be initiating a number of new recruitment drives in 2008, including one to seek out an injection of female talent from British Universities.

For more information on the Sporting Giants programme please click here