An Olympic champion will be guest of honour at the Medway Sports Awards.

Lizzy Yarnold, the most successful Winter Olympian in British history, will attend this year’s event.

The two-time Winter Olympic skeleton champion, who won back-to-back golds at the Sochi and PyeongChang Games, will join local sporting heroes at Medway Council’s Medway Sports Awards at MidKent College in December.

The awards are held every other year to celebrate local sporting success and highlight the achievements of Medway’s clubs, teams, individuals, coaches, volunteers and schools.

Nominations for the awards are now open and residents are encouraged to nominate local clubs, teams and individuals in 11 categories including Primary School Team-of-the-Year, Coach-of-the-Year and Junior Sportsperson-of-the-Year. Shortlisted nominees will then be invited to a gala celebration evening on Friday, December 14 at MidKent College. Gold, silver and bronze awards will be presented to the judges’ chosen winners on the night.

Previous winners have included Olympic hockey champion Maddie Hinch and Paralympic gold-medal winning skier Charlotte Evans.

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for community services, said: “The Medway Sports Awards are a wonderful celebration of the hard work and dedication shown by athletes, coaches and hard-working volunteers across Medway’s professional and community clubs. I look forward to toasting their achievements in December.”

Anchorians FC won Youth Club-of-the-Year at the last Medway Sports Awards in 2016.

Leigh Willis, chairman of Anchorians FC, said: “Like all grassroots clubs we do it for the people, giving them an opportunity to participate, learn new skills, make new friends and ultimately have fun.

"As volunteers, delivering this at times is a hard task but when you see your members enjoying themselves it is a great reward and getting that extra bit of recognition for all that hard work really does make a difference and makes it all worthwhile.”

The awards cover achievements from October 1, 2016 to October 26, 2018. Nominations are open until Friday, October 26, 2018.

For more information, and to nominate a local club or individual, visit www.medway.gov.uk/sportsawards