Jack Shephard has won the British Elite Athletes Association’s (BEAA) Athletes’ Athlete of the Month award for January.

The para-badminton player topped the vote among the UK’s World Class Programme-funded athletes after winning the men’s SH6 singles and the SH6 mixed doubles at the SPIRO SPATHIS Egypt Para-Badminton International.

“It was a great month,” said Jack, who went on to win bronze in the SH6 singles at the 2026 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in February.

“We knew there would be some strong competition and to go out there and win two gold medals was great.

“It was a big aim of ours so we could come into the World Championships as a 5-8 seed, which helps with how the draw looks going through the tournament.”

Presented by the BEAA on behalf of its members, the Athletes’ Athlete of the Month award recognises numerous achievements by British athletes, including sporting success and personal milestones such as injury comebacks, awareness raising and charitable efforts.

It is voted for exclusively by athletes in Olympic, Paralympic and progression sports who receive funding from UK Sport’s World Class Programme.

Jack faced stiff competition for January’s prize from Charlotte Bankes (snowboarding), Kirsty Muir (skiing) and Tabby Stoecker (skeleton).

“It’s crazy [to win the award],” he added.

“There are so many athletes in Britain and for them to see me as one of the best in that month is amazing. Being nominated against athletes who were pushing for the Winter Olympics, when everybody’s got their eyes on that, and being from a non-winter sport, was quite a nice feeling.

“It’s another amazing thing that’s happened in my career that I never thought would happen and I’m really happy.”

Congratulations to Jack and to Charlotte, Kirsty and Tabby for being nominated.

Elite athletes can get involved in future Athletes' Athlete of the Month votes by taking part via the BEAA's monthly member emails.