A MAIDEN World Para Athletics European Championship gold, up to second in the world rankings and still just 22 years of age, Harri Jenkins certainly boasts a 2018 to remember.

But, like any other elite athlete, Jenkins’ appetite for perfection is insatiable, and despite a ground-breaking season, the Neath native still isn’t content.

A former wheelchair basketball player, the move to sprint racing has certainly suited the Welshman, claiming the European T33 100m title in Berlin earlier this year with ease.

Now Jenkins is set to join illustrious company as one of ten nominees for the annual One-to-Watch Award, selected from around 1,000 rising British stars supported by SportsAid across more than 60 sports.

SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award was launched in 2006 with double Olympic medallist and diving world champion Tom Daley the inaugural winner.

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

And Jenkins admitted that he was surprised to receive the nomination, especially given his intense personal scrutiny.

“It came as a bit of a shock really. It’s a bit of an achievement – I told my mum and she said: ‘you do realise what a big deal this is?’” he said.

“They’re picking from an extraordinary pool of people who are supported by SportsAid, so even to make the top-ten – and if you look back on all the famous people who’ve been supported before you’ve got OBEs, and Olympic and Paralympic medals – it’s mad.

“This year has gone quite well – it could’ve gone better – but it’s been a good year, winning the Europeans. My times haven’t been up there, but I got the job done, so it’s been nice.”

And while Jenkins’ ambivalence may seem surprising on the surface, when taken in context his feelings become understandable.

With the World Para Athletics Championships taking place next November and the Paralympics less than a year after that, Jenkins has got his eyes set on the prize, and knows that nothing but perfection will do.

“The worlds was always my big aim, so I think it’ll give me good prep to hopefully try and make Tokyo – if I can make some noise at the worlds that would be good,” he continued.

“I’m chasing the world number one down – that’s my aim. That’s what I was looking to do, and I don’t think I did that to the best of my abilities this year, but next year hopefully I can give him a go. We’ve got the World Championships next year, so my aim is to go and take the crown then.

“It’s always been my dream to go to a Paralympics and I haven’t done it yet, so Tokyo would be amazing. I get Goosebumps thinking about it – it’s mad.”

Jenkins is being helped on his journey by SportsAid who offer funding and recognition to young athletes at a crucial, early stage in their careers.

But their help has gone much further than merely financial support.

“SportsAid have always been really good to me – I’ve been to a few workshops with them and did some stuff with them through SSE,” Harri, who receives his SportsAid support from Realbuzz, added.

“I’ve done a lot of media stuff with them as well, so stuff like that just makes you more prepared for different things - I’m used to doing stuff like this [interviews] now.

“When I first started it would be daunting to me, but now it’s just good, and that’s because of SportsAid and the support they’ve given me.”

The winner of SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award will be revealed at the charity’s annual SportsBall, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, in London on Thursday 15 November. Please visit www.sportsaid.org.uk for further information.