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Mia Brookes shortlisted for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year

Freestyle Snowboard Superstar’s stunning year recognised on award shortlist

Freestyle Snowboard Slopestyle World Champion, Mia Brookes, has been named in a 3-person shortlist for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

In an outstanding year, 16-year-old Mia not only became the world’s youngest ever Snowboard World Champion at the Bakuriani World Championships, but did so as the first female snowboarder to land a Cab 1440 in competition, and the first ever British athlete to win a Freestyle Snowboard World Championship title.

The top three contenders were chosen by an esteemed judging panel made up of former Young Sports Personality of the Year winners Theo Walcott, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Double Paralympic gold medallist and World Champion rower, Lauren Rowles, also joined the panel alongside representatives from BBC Sport, Youth Sport Trust, Blue Peter and a special Blue Peter badge winner.   

Andrea Spendolini Sirieix, former Young Sports Personality of the Year winner in 2020 and panellist this year, said:

“It is incredible to see these athletes shining and dominating the senior field. At their age, to be able to handle that kind of pressure and bring back medals and titles is awe-inspiring. Seeing them break boundaries and stigmas on age and experience and proving how strong and powerful the youth is, makes me so proud. 

What Mia, Penny and Charlie have achieved this year is incredible. They are all rising stars and I have no doubt that they’ll excel and keep on improving and bringing back medals. We all have so much to learn from them.” 

Speaking from Beijing, where she qualified for Finals in first place at her latest Big Air World Cup competition, Mia said:

This year has been unreal, and to get a nomination for Young Sports Personality of the year is an incredible way to sum it up. A year ago, I’d never have believed I’d be in this position, and I’m just really grateful to everyone – my family, my coaches, the whole team – for supporting me along the way.” 

Mia is joined in the Award’s top-3 by Penny Healey (Archery) and Charlie MacIntyre (Wheelchair Basketball), with the winner to be announced at BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday 19 December, live on BBC One and iPlayer.