When Ruby White was crowned the winner of SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award for 2024, her mum was almost as shocked as she was. It has been quite a year for White having completed her European three-peat and become -48kg world champion at the inaugural U19 World Boxing Championships.

The One-to-Watch Award, supported by Aldi, the charity’s Official Supermarket Partner, recognises Britain’s brightest young sporting prospects and has been running since 2006 with previous victors including Olympic champions Tom Daley and Alex Yee and Paralympic gold medallist Hollie Arnold.

Heidi Else, White's mother, has always believed that her daughter was set for greatness but, like any proud parent, was overcome by emotion in hearing that White had won the prestigious SportsAid prize - even more so as she had been selected from around 1,000 rising stars, supported by the charity, across more than 60 different sports in 2024.

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However, nothing compared to being able to tell White the news herself and present her with the trophy in a wonderful moment between mother and daughter.

"Out of all those talented young people, it was our little pocket rocket who won, so I was in a bit for shock," she said. "It was a phenomenal moment for me. My motto with Ruby is: ‘Let's just see what happens.’ And with Ruby, it keeps happening.

"She seems to put 110% into it, but she really is a determined, independent young lady, and she's turning into a fantastic young lady when it comes to portraying herself. She can talk the talk, and obviously she can box the box. She knows where she wants to be."

The mother and daughter duo are very close, with Else loving every aspect of her daughter's determination which has helped her earn sporting success at such a young age.

She said: "She has come from a broken family, but I remarried, and my husband Julian bought her up from the age of three. She's turned into another little Julian, I think, and he's a very determined person.

"Ruby and I were very close when she was younger, then, when she decided that she wanted to go and crack the world, she turned into a very feisty young lady."

Being the parent of an international sporting prospect is never easy, having to travel around the world to watch them compete and support their efforts.

Else has also had to deal with comments regarding the choice of sport her daughter has pursued but she is happy for White to keep letting her talent do the talking.

"Some people find it difficult that I let her go and box, because it's not everybody's cup of tea, but if you're good at something, why not? It's her talent," she said.

"I totally believe in letting your child make these decisions, and I've never stepped in the way. I am her number one fan. I watch every bout, I can't always be at every single one, because they are all over the country and all over the world, but those three minutes are the longest of my life."

Adding SportsAid's One-to-Watch Award to the five national, three European and one world title she has earned by the age of just 18, White is quickly moving towards her ultimate goal of Olympic gold.

With the support of her hometown of Sturminster Newton in Dorset and SportsAid's funding, Else has no doubt that her daughter will one day achieve that dream.

"The SportsAid award is there at the top of [her] achievements," she said. "Then it was her winning the worlds and all the nationals. Getting on the England team has been such an emotional rollercoaster, because we're down in Dorset. Nothing normally happens here, so she's become quite famous now.

"Having the backing of SportsAid allows her to be able to take on different challenges like travel and work. I think, and I truly do believe, she will one day bring back an Olympic gold."

Kyrsten Halley, Marketing Director of Aldi UK, supporters of SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award, said: “A huge congratulations to Ruby on winning this year’s One-to-Watch Award, and also to her family for the pivotal role they have played in supporting her to pursue her sporting ambitions.

“We know how instrumental parents and caregivers are to the future success of British sport. Over many years, they adopt a variety of roles which stretches way beyond the financial element. They may act as a taxi driver, psychologist, nutritionist, social media assistant and much, much more.

“They really do epitomise the ‘team behind the team’ and give their children the platform to flourish and be the best they can be. We are very proud to be supporting SportsAid to help parents and caregivers support their children in navigating their journey up the performance pathway.”

Aldi supports SportsAid, as the charity’s Official Supermarket Partner, to provide advice, insight and knowledge, both through online and in-person workshop sessions, to the parents and caregivers of talented young athletes across Great Britain.