Malcolm launches unsung hero quest

Christian Malcolm has competed on the world stage for over 10 years

Christian Malcolm has joined the campaign to urge everyone to nominate their BBC Sports Unsung Hero 2011 in Wales - an award to honour individuals from the world of grassroots sport.

The 100m and 200m runner from Newport was at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium to launch the award in Wales. Malcolm is a former World Junior Championships double gold medallist and won silver at the 2010 European Championships.

He says he knows how important unsung heroes are to keeping local sport alive and credits his own unsung hero Jock Anderson - his first sprint coach - with helping to kick-off his world-class sporting career.

"He really believed that this boy from Newport could be one of the best sprinters in the world and he took me to those levels," says Malcolm. "Jock coached Newport Harriers and he also coached my older cousin, the world class sprinter Kevin Williams and took quite a lot of guys to high levels in the sport.

"I wouldn't say I was a bad boy when I was younger but Jock really helped keep me focused with the little talks he would give me. He's the kind of person who doesn't mix his words, so when he says something you really do take note."

BBC Sports Unsung Hero, now in its ninth year, is one of the categories at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

A winner is chosen in each BBC English Region and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Wales Unsung Hero winner will be announced in early December.

Then, each of the national and regional winners has the chance to join the sporting stars of today at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011 where the overall BBC Sports Unsung Hero winner is announced.

This UK event will be held at MediaCityUK in Salford on 22 December.

Nominations are sought for people who go the extra mile to change the lives of others through sport and who deserve to be recognised for their selfless work.

Geoff Williams, BBC Wales Head of Sport says: "Unsung Hero is one of the key awards in the sporting year in Wales, and it is always a privilege to shine the spotlight on people who work so hard, often for decades, on behalf of others. This is a chance for their valiant and valuable efforts to be recognised."

Full details of how to nominate, including a link to the terms and conditions and details of Wales' winner in 2010, are here.

There is also a low-cost phone number people can call to request nomination forms - 03703 500 700. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply and calls may be recorded for training. The line is available between 0930 and 1930 Monday to Friday.

Nomination forms are also available from BBC Local Radio stations and from BBC Wales in Cardiff and Bangor. Nominations can be made up until midnight on Sunday, 30 October.