Athlete Impact Fund ·
Empowering Through Impact: The Athlete Impact Fund
Meet the first athletes supported by our Athlete Impact Fund, from grants and equipment to emergency relief.
Read story : Empowering Through Impact: The Athlete Impact Fund
Grants
Athlete Impact Fund
Targeted support that helps athletes address specific barriers to their development and pursue meaningful sporting or educational goals.
The Athlete Impact Fund was born in 2025, when Beyond the Finish Line with Star celebrated its first anniversary and asked: how can we move our stories from stories to impact?
The fund provides financial and developmental support to athletes facing real challenges, enabling access to proper training, recovery and education.
Its first beneficiaries were Denzel Ngavi (Zimbabwe), Momodou Lamin Jabbi (The Gambia), Promise Amasiatu (Nigeria) and Onu Success Onyinyechi (Nigeria).
In 2026, the second edition (AIF 2.0) awarded ₦4,450,000 to six athletes, supporting training, competition, education and, for the first time, athlete entrepreneurship.
Athletes supported
Meet the athletes
Select an athlete to read their story.
2026 · AIF 2.0
₦1,500,000
Nigeria
Ezeh Oluchi Jemimah
At 17, sprinter Ezeh Oluchi Jemimah receives ₦1.5 million through AIF 2.0 to support her development.
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₦1,000,000
Nigeria
Abioye Abdulkhafid Olawale
A 200m and 400m athlete and founder of De Bunar receives ₦1 million under the Athlete Entrepreneurship category.
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₦800,000
Nigeria
Success Onyinyechi Onu
From 55.89 to 53.48 seconds: after AIF 1.0, Success receives a further ₦800,000 through AIF 2.0.
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₦500,000
Nigeria
Inioluwa Mebawondu
After two years away from competition, Inioluwa returned with personal bests and receives ₦500,000 toward a US college pathway.
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₦400,000
Nigeria
Akintunde Mubarak
A 400m runner with a 47.73s personal best, Mubarak receives ₦400,000 to support his training and competition.
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₦250,000
Nigeria
Audu Emmanuel Shakamomodu
From 9 metres to 17.85 metres in shot put: Emmanuel receives ₦250,000 through AIF 2.0.
Read story2025 · 1st edition
₦1,200,000
Nigeria
Onu Success Onyinyechi
With ₦1.2 million in sponsorship, Success improved her 400m personal best from 55.89 to 53.48 seconds.
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$300
Nigeria
Promise Amasiatu
A $300 grant helped Promise process her collegiate documents. Today she studies at Middle Tennessee State University.
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$1,000
Zimbabwe
Denzel Tadiwa Ngavi
A hamstring injury shook Zimbabwean sprinter Denzel's confidence. A $1,000 grant helped him access treatment and run again.
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$300
The Gambia
Momodou Lamin Jabbi
A $300 grant gave Gambian sprinter Momodou access to a proper track in Senegal, and personal bests followed.
Read storyStories of impact
Stories from this program
Other programs
Equipment
Kit Up an Athlete
We help address equipment barriers by connecting athletes with essential sporting kits and resources that support training and competition.
Learn more about Kit Up an Athlete
Welfare
Feed an Athlete Initiative
We support athletes facing basic welfare challenges, including food needs, recognising the importance of nutrition and community support.
Learn more about Feed an Athlete Initiative
Education
Education & Advocacy
We promote access to knowledge, information and development opportunities that help athletes make informed decisions about their futures.
Learn more about Education & Advocacy