Team GB athlete receives donation from Essex region

Team GB athlete Ruben Hedman, 19, is due to fly to Tenerife for warm weather training to help him build up for a season of competitions thanks to a donation from Persimmon Homes Essex.

We awarded £1,000 to hurdler Ruben, from Witham, through our Community Champions scheme to support him in his training as he works towards his ultimate goal of competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Ruben competes both indoor and outdoor, and earned a bronze medal at the 2023 U20 National Championships for both.

He achieved the European qualifying time for his event and was selected to represent Great Britain at the European U20 Championships in Jerusalem, ending his season ranked 4th in the UK.

This season Ruben, who is studying sports psychology at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, is competing at Under 23 level and training has stepped up a gear.

Ruben trains six times a week with a mix of circuits, track, and gym sessions to keep him at peak fitness level throughout the season, while the warm weather training in Tenerife this April will help his body become accustomed to performing in different climates.

Lead Coach Richard Holt oversees his training at Momentum Sport in Kingston during term time while Julie Pratt Benterman at Hurdle Dynamix in Chelmsford takes up the baton when he is home.

Ruben Hedman said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Persimmon Homes for this donation, being able to travel abroad to train brings a wealth of benefits and having funding allows me to focus on my training and my university work.”

Richard Hush, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Essex, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Ruben in his bid for Olympic success and it is an honour to be able to play a small part in his journey. We look forward to seeing his progress this season and in coming years as he heads towards his ultimate goal.”