Quick Read
- Colin Jackson has returned as the lead ambassador for the 2026 Sporting Champions scheme to mentor grassroots athletes.
- The mentoring program is expanding to include a new ‘You+’ holistic health membership for participants over 16.
- Jackson is concurrently campaigning for LGBTQ+ visibility, urging athletes to prioritize personal authenticity over fear of scrutiny.
Olympic silver medallist and world record holder Colin Jackson has officially returned as the ambassador for the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme for the 2026-27 season. This development marks a significant dual focus for the athletics icon, who is simultaneously using his platform to urge LGBTQ+ athletes to embrace their identities openly in an evolving sporting landscape.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Sporting Champions
As the Sporting Champions programme celebrates its 10th anniversary, Jackson is set to lead a cohort of elite Olympians and Paralympians in providing mentorship to grassroots talent across the United Kingdom. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow approaching, the scheme aims to provide aspiring athletes with access to state-of-the-art training facilities and professional guidance. Jackson emphasized his commitment to the initiative, stating that he is more excited than ever to support athletes across all disciplines in achieving their dreams.
The programme, which has invested over £2 million into young talent over the past nine years, is expanding its reach for 2026. Athletes over 16 will now gain access to the new ‘You+’ membership, a holistic health and wellbeing initiative. Jackson will work alongside high-profile athletes, including Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Maisie Summers-Newton, to offer wisdom and technical advice to the next generation of regional and international competitors.
Advocacy and the Call for Authenticity
Beyond his technical mentorship, Jackson is intensifying his role as an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility. In a recent interview, he directly addressed the anxieties faced by queer athletes, encouraging them to prioritize their wellbeing and authenticity over the fear of professional or public scrutiny. Having come out publicly in 2017 after years of intense media speculation, Jackson noted that while representation in sport has improved, many athletes still struggle with the lingering legacy of homophobic stereotypes.
Reflecting on his own career, Jackson described the pressure he faced to separate his private life from his public athletic achievements. He argued that athletes should not be required to explain their personal lives in a way that their straight counterparts are never asked to do. By sharing these experiences, he hopes to alleviate feelings of isolation among younger competitors, insisting that there is nothing to be afraid of when living authentically.
Jackson’s return to the Sporting Champions role underscores a shift in how elite sports figures are now expected to function, moving beyond technical instruction to provide the emotional and social scaffolding necessary for athletes to navigate the modern, highly scrutinized professional environment.