This year saw Stafford swimmer Tom Derbyshire prove his worth on the international stage but his 2016 could get even better after being shortlisted for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

Back in July, former Royal Wolverhampton School pupil Derbyshire twice took a trip to the podium at the European Junior Championships in Hungary, winning the 1500m freestyle and finishing in silver position in the 400m freestyle.

The former was in a massive new personal best and, according to the 18-year-old, went some way to soothing the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the 2015 European Games in Baku where illness had disrupted his preparations.

Stafford Apex Swimming Club’s Derbyshire also won gold in the same events at the Energy Standard Cup in 2016 in a season which saw him sign off his junior career in style and gain plenty of plaudits along the way, including his latest nomination.

SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award was launched in 2006 with double Olympic medallist Tom Daley the inaugural winner, with six of the ten recipients competing at the Rio Games this summer.

Derbyshire is now in line to join such illustrious company as one of three final nominees selected from over 1,100 rising British stars supported by SportsAid across more than 60 different sports – Alex Yee and Ashleigh Pittaway completing the trio.

The winner will be presented at the charity’s annual SportsBall on November 24 and Derbyshire admitted taking the gong home would be the perfect end to a dream season.

“I was very surprised to be nominated, I was not expecting it when you think about all the other athletes supported by SportsAid,” said the 18-year-old.

“It’s quite an honour to be chosen and I’m very grateful to even be considered, let alone think of the idea of winning. It just makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“The highlight for me this year has got to be the European Junior Championships in Hungary, it was the competition I had been working towards and I managed to become 1500m champion.

“At last year’s European Games I was the only one of my teammates not to come away with a medal, I had been struggling a bit with illness beforehand.

“So the gold and my two medals at this year’s European Junior Championships were so much more meaningful for me.”

Since the Championships this summer, Derbyshire has moved away from home and relocated to the University of Bath, where he is studying sports and exercise science.

The youngster is also training alongside the likes of Rio 2016 silver medallists Jazz Carlin and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor.

But, far from be overawed, Derbyshire insists it is only serving to drive him on to keep reaching for the highest level, especially having also seen his close friends do likewise this summer.

“I was watching the Olympic Games, I made sure to get up in the early hours to catch the swimming,” he said.

“I actually went to the European Games with Duncan Scott and Cameron Kurle and they were both in Rio, with Duncan doing especially well with two relay silver medals. It shows that it’s not too far off for me, I’m totally aiming for Tokyo.

“I’m really enjoying being at the national centre here at Bath and training with the likes of Jazz and Siobhan, my next aim is trying to make the World Championships team next year.”

The winner of SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award will be revealed at the charity’s 40th anniversary SportsBall in London on Thursday 24 November.

All funds raised from the SportsBall helps to support the next generation of British athletes.

Please visit www.sportsball.org.uk for tickets.