Finalists revealed for 2018 NSWIS Awards

An exceptional twelve months for athletes from the NSW Institute of Sport will be celebrated at the 2018 NSWIS Awards, headlined by performances in PyeongChang, on the Gold Coast and at major events around the world.

The esteemed annual awards will be presented at a gala celebration at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 15^th November, with the best sporting talent from across Australia in attendance. The NSWIS Awards recognise and honour the achievements of NSWIS athletes, coaches and sport programs across nine categories.

And this year a brand-new award will acknowledge those who have demonstrated the ‘spirit of sport’ over the past year. The 7News Spirit of Sport Award is voted on by the public, awarded for acts of great sportsmanship, generosity or selflessness in connection with a sporting endeavour.

At the Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang Melissa Perrine won double bronze in her skiing events. Perrine is one of five finalists in Office of Sport Female Athlete of the Year, joining cyclists Kaarle McCulloch and Amanda Spratt – who have both had outstanding seasons on the track and road respectively, world champion Canoe Slalom athlete Jessica Fox, and Wheelchair Track & Road’s Madison de Rozario. Fox became world champion in both the K1 and C1 events this year, whilst de Rozario took two gold medals away from the Commonwealth Games and won the prestigious London Marathon.

Snowboarder Jarryd Hughes and Freestyle Moguls skier Matthew Graham each won silver for Australia in their events at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and are both nominated for M.J. Bale Male Athlete of the Year. Joining the winter sports athletes is rower Erik Horrie, who won gold at the World Rowing Championships for the fifth time in a row, breaking his own record. Also up for this award is swimmer Matthew Levy who finished the Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships with five gold medals and a silver, while high jumper Brandon Starc rounds off the nominations following wins at the Commonwealth Games and in the Diamond League.

Mizuno Junior Athlete of the Year, Ian Thorpe OAM Outstanding Achievement presented by Ryde Toyota, Southern Design Coach of the Year, Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year, University of Sydney Academic Excellence and ClubsNSW Personal Excellence will also be presented on the night.

NSW Institute of Sport CEO Professor Kevin Thompson sees the NSWIS Awards as an opportunity to look back at a successful year for the entire team.

“The annual NSWIS Awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our athletes, coaches and support staff. They celebrate the outstanding sporting achievements of the year as well as the professional and academic pursuits of our athletes”, he said.

“Each of the finalists have excelled in their respective categories, placing them among the top achievers not just in New South Wales but across Australia.”

The full list of finalists is below. If you would like to attend the awards, tickets can be purchased here.

University of Sydney Academic Excellence

ClubsNSW Personal Excellence

Ian Thorpe OAM Outstanding Achievement Presented by Ryde Toyota

Mizuno Junior Athlete of the Year

Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year

Southern Design Coach of the Year

7News Spirit of Sport

Vote Now

M.J. Bale Male Athlete of the Year

Office of Sport Female Athlete of the Year