This year has already proven to be medal-laden for Charlie Smith but 2017 could be about to get even better for the Leighton Buzzard canoeist after he was shortlisted for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

Having won silver in the K1 Men’s Juniors at the Canoe Marathon European Championships over the summer, Smith took his success to World Championship-level in September, winning the same colour in the same event.

A seventh-place finish over 1000m at the ICF Canoe Sprint Junior and Under-23s World Championships capped off a remarkable year for the 18-year-old, but it could still continue yet.

SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award was launched in 2006 with double Olympic medallist Tom Daley the inaugural winner. In addition to Daley, five of the other previous recipients of the award represented Great Britain across the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.

Smith is now in line to join such illustrious company as one of ten nominees selected from over 1,000 rising British stars supported by SportsAid across more than 60 different sports.

Dame Katherine Grainger, Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, and five-time Paralympic champion Natasha Baker are among the panel of judges for the award. 

The winner will be presented at the charity’s annual SportsBall on November 23 and Smith couldn’t be more shocked to see his name on the shortlist.

“To be nominated was a massive surprise, I had no idea that it was coming,” said Smith who receives his SportsAid support from the Nottingham Building Society.

“Looking at the previous winners like Tom Daley, it’s a massive honour to be even considered in the same bracket as athletes like him.

“There are a lot of other deserving athletes nominated too, which is amazing, and it’s great to even make the top ten.

“I’ve been supported by SportsAid for the last three years now and they have been a massive help.

“Canoeing is an expensive sport and so their financial help has been invaluable.

“But it has also been great psychologically, knowing that someone has your back and is there supporting you.

“Their support motivates me to achieve more success without a doubt. It makes training that little bit easier and keeps you going to reach the next level.”

There’s little doubting that Smith – a former pupil at Aylesbury Grammar School – will indeed reach that next level, his sights set on making his Olympic debut in the coming years.

And having watched from the stands when the Games came to London five years ago, Smith can’t wait for the day he’s the one inspiring the next generation of stars.

“This year has been my best yet, without a doubt,” Smith said.

“I’ve won World and European silver medals, and I’ve had some other really great results, so hopefully that can continue.

“One day, I want to compete at the Olympics. I train in Nottingham where British Canoeing’s headquarters are, with the aim of getting to Tokyo 2020.

“If I don’t get to Tokyo, then it will be Paris four years later – that will be the one for me.

“I’ve always wanted to compete at the Olympics. I went to watch the canoeing every day at London 2012 and it was so inspiring to think that one day it could be me.”

The winner of SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award will be revealed at the charity’s annual SportsBall in London on Thursday 23 November. All the funds raised from the SportsBall help to support the next generation of British athletes. Please visit www.sportsball.org.uk for ticket information.