Blacksmith wins National Indigenous Award

Talented 16-year-old Telaya Blacksmith, a rising star in Para athletics and a NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Scholarship holder, has celebrated being named the Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the National Indigenous Sport Awards.

Blacksmith, a Warlpiri teenager, and the 16^th Indigenous Australian to have represented the nation at the Paralympics, had a memorable 2024 which, besides competing in Paris, included breaking the Australian Under 20 and Open records in the 400m and long jump events.  

Her career record notes she won three gold medals at the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games as a 14-year-old and that she competed at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in France. She holds Australian age records in the 100m, 200m and long jump events and is also a member of the Sydney Swans AFL Academy.

Indeed, Blacksmith’s impressive performances at such a young age has established her as an athlete to watch in the countdown to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Blacksmith, who was born in Perth and raised in the Aboriginal community of Lajamanu in the Northern Territory, has previously nominated Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 400m champion Cathy Freeman as her hero. That list has been extended in more recent times to include 1996 Olympic gold medallist, Nova Peris and AFLW player Steph Williams.

While she did not win a medal in Paris, the talented teen created history as the first Australian woman to contest the 400m T20, and the first to break the 58-second barrier for that event.

Blacksmith’s efforts at Stade de France were acknowledged by Peris on her social media account of when she wrote: “A big congratulations . . . Telaya proves she is made of grit. Let’s get behind Telaya!”

Before leaving for Paris, Blacksmith said she runs with a purpose.

“I represent my family every time I race and know that I am an inspiration for other young Aboriginal kids,” she said.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS