by Simon Daish
Dating back to 1949, the annual awards brings together 700 of Britain’s leading journalists, editors, photographers and broadcasters to cast their vote for the nation’s outstanding athletes of the year.
Class 6-10 men’s singles runner up at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and a member of Great Britain’s contingent of athletes on duty at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, Daybell had been intending to return to full-time training in March ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. However, the arrival of COVID-19 saw Daybell selflessly shift his priorities to assist on the medical frontlines as a Senior House Doctor at Wittington Hospital in North London.
Inspirational on a sporting and medical front, Daybell was touched by the awards gesture, expressing his gratitude to everyone outside the medical profession for the kind messages and show of solidarity towards frontline workers over the course of 2020:
“This has obviously been a very difficult year, everyone has been struggling and there hasn’t been a huge amount to celebrate so it is really nice to have the work that we have done recognised. Not that we need recognition but just to have it recognised by people outside of the medical community as well and to have sport rallying round frontline workers is a really nice thing and I’m very proud to have won the award.” Kim Daybell
A year plagued by confusion due to the pandemic, naturally an air of uncertainty will be carried forward into the New Year and, while he believes there’s still some way to go before life can return to a sense of normality, Daybell remains upbeat as medical science begins to turn the corner:
“It will be nice to spend some quality time with my family at Christmas. As far as 2021 is concerned I’m feeling more optimistic, particularly with the vaccine coming through, but I don’t think the whole COVID thing is over yet. There is still a battle to fight but we are getting there and I’m feeling positive about the future.” Kim Daybell
Daybell joins an illustrious list of athletes in receiving the award with the likes of 2003 Rugby World Cup champion Jonny Wilkinson and Athens 2004 800m and 1500m middle distance running gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes amongst the group.
Source: Francesca Bullock – British Para Table Tennis