Pardoe wins athlete of the year at BBC Green Sport Awards

Pardoe wins athlete of the year at BBC Green Sport Awards

Images courtesy of Getty

At the BBC Green Sport Awards 2025, former Arsenal player Hector Bellerin and former world champion Formula E were also honored.

Who presented the awards to those who demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the sustainability of sport?

Former sprinter Jeanette Kwakye presented the BBC Green Sport Awards ceremony at BBC Broadcasting House in London in its fourth year.

“It’s fantastic to applaud the game-changers who are moving sport forward,” said BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski.

The Year athlete

Hector Pardoe is the winner.

He won, but why?

The 24-year-old open-water swimmer has spoken out about the UK’s poor water quality, which has caused the Olympian and his team-mates’ illnesses and threatens the future of his sport because of the closure of open-water venues, saying that “my goal is bigger than just winning a medal.”

In August, Pardoe, who describes himself as a plant-based athlete, set the record for the fastest lake in England, Scotland, and Wales in just 24 hours, raising money for the environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage.

Global Champion

Hector Bellerin is the winner.

He won, but why?

Bellerin is a shining example of how athletes can use their significant platform for good thanks to their long-term commitment to sustainability.

Bellerin has become the second-largest shareholder in Forest Green Rovers, the first football team in the world, and has launched a sustainable fashion line that produces made-to-order clothing made of deadstock waste. During his time at Arsenal, he fundraised to plant about 60, 000 trees.

Pioneer

Formula E winner

What made it triumph?

Formula E has been carbon neutral since its creation in 2014 and uses its performance to promote electric vehicles’ use.

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Source: BBC

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