The annual awards ceremony, sponsored by Medway Development Company, will celebrate Medway's sporting achievements. This year, boxing Youth Olympic gold medallist Karol Itauma and two-time Olympian trampolinist Kat Driscoll will be recognised for their significant contributions to sport.
Karol Itauma, who discovered boxing in Chatham at 13, became a Youth Olympic gold medallist and has since been involved in local sport and wellbeing initiatives through his business ventures and Team Itauma. Kat Driscoll, a Chatham-born trampolinist, represented Great Britain at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and now works with British Gymnastics' performance team.
The evening will be hosted by ITV Meridian's Joe Coshan and sports broadcaster Matt Thacker, both of whom have strong connections to Medway's sporting scene. They expressed excitement about celebrating the local talent and the people who make sport special in the area.
Cllr Nina Gurung, Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, highlighted the awards as a fantastic opportunity to recognise Medway's sporting successes at all levels. She also confirmed the new co-hosts, Joe Coshan and Matt Thacker, and reminded the public that nominations are still open.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open until 5pm on Sunday, 25 October. Categories include Sportsperson of the Year, Club of the Year, Coach of the Year, and various junior and school awards. Achievements must have occurred between 1 November 2024 and 25 October 2026.
The Medway Sports Awards are also sponsored by MidKent College, The Laurence Plummer Foundation, Infinite Office Solutions, and Matrix. Interested parties can inquire about sponsorship opportunities by emailing MedwaySport@Medway.gov.uk.
