AN OLYMPIAN who narrowly missed out on a medal in Rio is our first nominee for the Contribution to Sussex Sport Award, sponsored by Juice Radio.

England rugby star Amy Wilson Hardy, 24, from Angmering, and her team came agonisingly close to a podium finish in Brazil, finishing fourth in the Sevens competition.

A series of exceptional performances culminated in a loss to New Zealand in the semi-final, after two players were sin-binned simultaneously, and then a loss to Canada in the bronze medal match.

But the centre has been hailed as an inspiration on and off the pitch for her contribution both to the highest levels of sports and to encouraging young women to be more confident about their bodies.

Amy, who posed naked with her teammates for the September issue of Women’s Health magazine, said that the experience was the “scariest moment of her life” but said: “I’ve grown to love my bigger legs and bum – they’re vital for bursts of speed.”

School-age rugby at Worthing Rugby Club was followed by a 2008-9 season at Hove before Amy moved on to play for Bristol while at university in Bath. There was enormous excitement around the county when she was named in the women’s Sevens squad for Rio – in July – the first time the sport was included in the Games.

Interviewed at the time, Amy told The Argus: “It’s really exciting. Time is running out and they keep reminding us that there are only so many training sessions left.”

Former coach Ben Coulson said: “As a performer you want to coach her, as a student you want to teach her, as a parent she is the daughter you want and as a role model she is the one young women should look up to.”

Last year’s nominees included Ian Chapman, the former Brighton and Hove Albion footballer who coached Burgess Hill Town team to win the Ryman South trophy, and charity Albion in The Community for its work to open up sporting events to young and old.