At just 24 years old, Bob Whittaker — known to many as “Bobby Knuckles” — has already established himself as one of Great Britain’s most decorated and exciting surf lifesaving athletes.

He has represented Great Britain ten times, earning his fourth Open cap at the recent European Lifesaving Championships. At those Championships, Bob secured four gold medals and one silver — retaining his prestigious European Oceanman title, which he first claimed in Belgium in 2023.

Oceanman is widely regarded as one of the toughest individual endurance events in surf lifesaving — combining swim, board and ski disciplines in demanding open-water conditions. To win it once requires exceptional athleticism. To retain it requires dominance.

A proud member of North Devon Club in Woolacombe, Bob trains and competes at the highest level, yet remains grounded in the core values of the sport. Those who know him speak of his work ethic, but also of his enjoyment — he competes fiercely, but never loses sight of why he started.

He inspires younger athletes not just through medals, but through attitude — showing that elite performance and love for the sport can coexist.

For sustained international excellence and for representing Great Britain with distinction, we proudly name Bob Whittaker our Sports Person of the Year.