Tai’s delight at Laureus Awards nomination

After a standout season in 2019 it’s hardly any surprise that Alice Tai finds herself among the list of nominees for next week’s prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.

Having won seven gold medals at last summer’s World Para Swimming Championships in London, Tai is nominated for the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.

The nomination follows a number of accolades to have already come the 21-year-old’s way and following a string of remarkable performances in London Tai will undoubtedly be hoping to lead ParalympicsGB’s medal hopes again at Tokyo 2020.

With former Laureus Awards nominees including the likes of ParalympicsGBs team mates Dame Sarah Storey, David Weir and Sir Lee Pearson, Tai is delighted to be joining such impressive company.

“I’m really excited to be nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award. I’ve grown up in a really sporty family and so many other people’s names were just sort of thrown around like, look what so‑and‑so has just done,” said Tai.

“To be part of the Awards now and held in almost a similar league as those people is insane. Honestly it blows my mind.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards, which were first established to celebrate the impact sport can have on wider society.

With ParalympicsGB research highlighting that 84% of UK adults recognise the achievements of our athletes as having had a positive impact on society overall, Tai’s nomination carries extra significance for her.

“I think having more exposure for people with disability is really important in general because it allows others who have acquired a disability in their life or born with one to understand that so much is possible, even if they are limited in certain ways, they can do so much,” explained Tai.

Tai is one of six finalists in contention for the award and in being nominated becomes the first ParalympicsGB athlete to be shortlisted for this honour since Storey in 2015.

Despite having a modest outlook on her achievements to date, Tai is heading to next week’s awards in Berlin as a more than worthy finalist.

“To be regarded as one of the top six, I wouldn’t put myself in that position because I just look at it like a hobby, and I just happen to win medals sometimes. But to now be regarded on that level, I’m honestly speechless.”