Shropshire Star

Shropshire swimmer Freya Anderson makes final three for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year

Shropshire swimmer Freya Anderson has been named in the final three to win the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

Published
Last updated

On Monday, Shropshire Star announced that Anderson, 17, had been named among a ten-name shortlist, but now she is in the final three to claim the prestigious award.

Introduced in 2001, BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year has been won by an array of star-studded names, including Wayne Rooney, Andy Murray and Tom Daley.

The Ellesmere Titans swimmer won Bronze for England in the 4x200m freestyle relay and the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Prior to that, Anderson had won gold in the mixed 4x100m medley and the women's 4x200m freestyle relay, and bronze in the mixed 4x200m freestyle and women's 4x100m medley relays at the 2018 European Championships.

The England team of Siobhan Marie O'connor, Freya Anderson, Anna Hopkin and Eleanor Faulkner celebrate winning Bronze in the Women's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay.

Anderson has fierce competition in the final three.

Firstly, 17-year-old para-athlete, Kare Adenegan became T34 100m WPA European champion and the first female athlete to go under 17 seconds over 100m.

Also nominated, the youngest ever winner of the Welsh Grand National, James Bowen secured victory in the Lanzarote Hurdle and second place in the Ultima handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival during his first season.

Nevertheless, Anderson has already beaten off competition from England under-21 starlet Ryan Sessegnon and 12-year-old Table Tennis sensation Anna Hursey in the running for the award.

The winner will be announced at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards on Sunday night.