COVER STORY
September-October. 2025 | @ green
COVER STORY
23
Alex Kay Jelski
Game-changers in Green
Pardoe leads BBC Green Sport Honourees
Hector Bellerin Hector Pardoe
OLYMPIC open-water swimmer Hector Pardoe has been named Athlete of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards 2025, joining a growing movement of athletes using their platforms to champion sustainability in sport.
The awards, now in their fourth edition, were held at BBC Broadcasting House in London and hosted by former sprinter Jeanette Kwakye.
Organised by BBC Sport, the event honours individuals and organisations demonstrating exceptional commitment to protecting the planet through their sporting endeavours.
Pardoe, who finished sixth in the 10km open-water race at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was recognised not just for his athletic achievements but for his advocacy of ocean conservation and eco-friendly sporting practices.
Joining him among the honourees were Hector Bellerin, the former Arsenal footballer known for his investments in environmental reforestation projects, and Formula E, which continues to lead the shift toward low-carbon innovation in global motorsport.
“ It’ s fantastic to celebrate the game-changers pushing sport in a greener direction,” said Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport.“ Sport has the power to inspire, unite, and lead— and these awards spotlight those using that power to protect the planet.”