Nicolas Hamilton: Racing Against All Odds

In 2015, Nicolas Hamilton made history as the first disabled racing driver in the British Touring Cars series. Despite battling cerebral palsy and a gambling addiction, Hamilton made a triumphant return to racing in 2019 and continues to compete in the 2025 championship. His story is a testament to resilience and determination.

Beth Shriever: Crowdfunding Her Way to Gold

BMX rider Beth Shriever became the first British athlete to win a gold medal in BMX at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. After her funding was cut in 2017, Shriever crowdfunded £50,000 to continue her journey. Her victory is a shining example of perseverance and community support.

Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards: Ski Jumping Against the Grain

Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards became Britain's first-ever ski jumping competitor at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. With only 20 months of experience, Edwards borrowed equipment, slept in his car, and ate out of bins to achieve his dream. Despite finishing last, he became a global icon of determination.

Nicola Adams: Breaking Barriers in Boxing

Nicola Adams, a double Olympic gold medallist, grew up in a male-dominated boxing world. Despite the lack of funding and resources, Adams won the first-ever women's Olympic boxing gold medal in 2012 and repeated her success at the Rio Games in 2016. Her journey is a powerful narrative of breaking barriers.

Leicester City: The Ultimate Football Fairytale

Leicester City defied 5,000-1 odds to win the Premier League title in 2016. A year earlier, they were at the bottom of the table. Under the management of Claudio Ranieri, they turned their fortunes around, winning 23 of their 38 matches and creating one of the greatest unexpected sporting stories of all time.

These stories of British underdogs remind us that with determination, resilience, and community support, anything is possible. Tune into the BBC Sounds series 'Sport's Greatest Underdogs' to hear more about these inspiring athletes.