After being named as the recipient of this prestigious honour at the charity's annual SportsBallTM in London, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships 200 metres bronze medallist - who won a final vote ahead of 12 other shortlisted competitors - said: "I'm really honoured and can't believe that I've been picked for this award.

"There's so much talent in the UK and to be chosen as the One-to-Watch is amazing.

"This is a great start to the season for me as I'm just getting back into training now, focusing on my technique and getting ready for the year ahead and winning this gives me a lot of confidence for that.

"I would definitely like to get to the London 2012 Paralympics next year and even medal at it but I will have to see how the season goes."

Brown is still a junior athlete but has won medals at some of her sport's highest profile senior events this year.

As well as finishing third in the 200m T46 at the IPC World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, she won silver in the same event at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

At the IWAS World Junior Championships in Dubai in April Brown won another silver medal in the under-23 100m T46 and a gold medal in the under-23 200m T46.


The shortlist included World Youth 200m champion Desiree Henry, junior world epee champion Phillip Marsh and European Youth 1500m swimming champion Joel Knight.

SportsAid's Chief Executive Tim Lawler said: "Our annual One-to-Watch Award recognises the UK's best performing young sportsperson and Sally is a worthy winner.

"She has shown immense dedication to her sport and enjoyed some fantastic medal-winning performances as a result.

"When you look at the potential within young people like Sally, it highlights how important it is for us to support talented athletes like her.

"Thanks to the ongoing support of SportsAid's partners we are able to help 2,000 rising stars of British sport every year.

"Many of the athletes in action at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games next year will have had a helping hand from SportsAid and there is every chance that Sally will be one of them."

Brown's nomination for SportsAid's 2011 One-to-Watch Award came from her sport's governing body, UK Athletics.

Their Paralympic programme performance transition manager, former international sprinter Paula Dunn, commented: "Sally burst onto the international field in August 2010 at the World Juniors and since then she has gone from strength to strength.

"She has great talent, as well as great drive and determination, and hopefully this combination will make her realise her full potential for 2012 and beyond."

The One-to-Watch Award panel judges were: Paul Dickenson (BBC commentator), Matt Slater (BBC Sport News Gatherer), Emyr Roberts (Strategic Lead Coaching and Talent Development, Sport England), Matt Favier (Head of Performance Solutions, UK Sport), Joslyn Hoyte-Smith (Performance Operations Manager, English Institute of Sport), Sarah Winckless (chair of the Athletes' Commission, British Olympic Association) and Emmanuel Blanchard (Awards Manager, SportsAid).

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]