Joseph Gomez is testament to the opportunities that sport can offer, aside from the satisfaction of winning.
The 17-year-old will be among three hopefuls in the Wandsworth Civic Suite on Thursday night, waiting on who is named the Active Wandsworth Sports Awards young volunteer of the year.
Gomez volunteers for the community project Kickz, a partnership between the Premier League and the Metropolitan Police, as well as a host of Duke of Edinburgh sports coaching schemes.
Overall, Gomez commits about 14 hours of voluntary work each week, including three weekly sessions at Ashburton Youth Club in Putney.
He said: “I think I’ve been nominated because of my hard work and determination. I didn’t want to stay on the streets, I wanted to do better with my life.”
The teenager, who ultimately wants to become a football coach, has many highlights from 2013, but earning his bronze Duke of Edinburgh award with Kickz tops the lot.
Above that, Gomez has plenty to aim for this year.
He said: “I am studying psychology and sport at sixth-form college, and I am also aiming to get my level one coaching qualification.
“I feel like I can achieve that in one year.”
Elsewhere, Putney High School pupil Alice Kelly is up against Tian Isidore and Katy-Ann McDonald for junior sports person of the year.
Last year, Kelly, 12, represented Great Britain, and finished fifth in the World Age Group Tumbling Championships in Bulgaria.
Her success in the worlds followed a gold medal at the British Tumbling Championships in July and a first-place finish at the world trials in September 2013.
She said: “I am very pleased to have been nominated, it is really nice that my achievements have been acknowledged.”
Kelly, pictured, added: “I was really excited to compete at the World Championships. It was a great experience and I loved wearing my GB kit.”
The future is bright for Kelly, who represents Richmond Gymnastic Association, however she remains level-headed.
“Next year I will be the youngest in my age group so I’m not expecting to win anything,” she said.
“I’m not going to the World Championships but the year after that I hope to win a medal.”
This year’s Active Wandsworth Sports Awards will be fronted by Commomwealth bronze medalist swimmer Kate Haywood.
Up for an award: Volunteer extraordinaire Joseph Gomez
The nominees are:
Sports club/organisation of the year: Thames Rowing Club, Ernest Bevin Phoenix Judo Club, Balham Blazers FC.
The Mayor's award: Richard Harrison, Linden Lodge boccia team, Ann Johnston.
Outstanding contribution to sport/physical activity: Greg Cruttwell, Jefferson Williams, Bob Pearson.
Young volunteer of the year: Sharna McDermott, Joseph Gomez, Tamia Stone Martin.
Voluntary services to sport: Adam Hannachi, John Longridge, Mark Livingstone, Thomas
Horrigan, Tony Costa, Louise Eyeington, Rachel Arbuckle, Richard Weston, Jean Peddle.
Coach/instructor of the year: Jaime Bodkin, James McDonald, Mark Coyle.
Physical activity project of the year: The Furzedown Project, Box N Skills, More Life UK Ltd.
Team of the year (U18): Ernest Bevin School volleyball team, Herne Hill Harriers U13 girls cross- country team, Ernest Bevin Phoenix judo team, Putney High School cross-country team.
Junior sports person of the year: Tian Isidore, Alice Kelly, Katy-Ann McDonald.
Sports person of the year: Adam Adaman, Julian Chan Quee Lin, Cameron Carrington.
JWE Davis award (London Youth Games): Indoor rowing team, Outdoor rowing team, Girls cross-country team, Girls hockey team.
David Burns Award: Reiss Ormonde Cunningham, Isabella Padt, Saskia Millard.
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