The state’s world class athletes have been celebrated at the prestigious NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Awards, following their success at the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

NSWIS CEO Professor Kevin Thompson said 26 athletes and six coaches were selected as finalists for the Awards, demonstrating NSW’s depth of sporting talent.

“It has been another huge year of NSWIS athletes shining on both the domestic and international stage and it is great that we can gather together and celebrate everyone’s achievements,” Prof Thompson said.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist in women’s javelin, Mackenzie Little, won the Australian College of Physical Education Academic Excellence award for excelling in both her athletic  and academic pursuits. Mackenzie commenced a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney in 2020.

Olympian Eleanor Patterson won the Ian Thorpe AM Outstanding Achievement Award for her heroic performance winning a gold medal in women’s high jump at the world championships and in doing so becoming the first Australian to win a high jump world title.

Twenty-one-year-old Tess Coady won the Southern Design Junior Athlete of the Year for her Olympic bronze medal performance in the women’s snowboard slopestyle at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Taking out top honours was the Olympic champion in women’s moguls at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Jakara Anthony, who won the NSW Office of Sport Female Athlete of the Year. Fellow winter athlete Ben Tudhope won the Valour Male Athlete of the Year for his Olympic bronze medal performance in snowboard cross SB-LL2. Ben was also named co-captain of the Australian team as well the nation’s flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony.

Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey won Musashi Coach of the Year. The pair have guided Jakara’s dominant performance over the past 12 months. In the same year Jakara won her Olympic gold medal, she also won two Crystal Globes and 12 world cup medals from 13 starts.

The Winter Sports program took out the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year. The program delivered the most successful Australian Winter Olympic Games, with NSWIS athletes making up 51% of the team and winning two medals. In addition NSWIS athletes made up 89% of the Australian Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Team and secured the nation’s only medal, a bronze to Ben Tudhope in the men’s snowboard cross SB-LL2.

Following an incredible career, on and off the track, Paralympian and three time gold medallist, Kurt Fearnley AO was presented with the NSWIS ‘Most Outstanding’ honour for his outstanding commitment and personal contribution to sport.

Kurt joins seven of Australia’s greatest athletes including, Ian Thorpe AM, Alyson Annan OAM, Bradley McGee OAM, Liz Ellis AM, Louise Sauvage OAM, Matthew Mitcham OAM, and Michael Milton OAM.

2022 NSWIS Award Winners:

• The Australian College of Physical Education Academic Excellence –Mackenzie Little (Athletics);
• Ian Thorpe AM Outstanding Achievement presented by Powerade – Eleanor Patterson (Athletics);
• Southern Design Junior Athlete of the Year – Tess Coady (Winter Sports);
• Musashi Coach of the Year – Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey (Winter Sports);
• Valour Male Athlete of the Year – Ben Tudhope (Winter Sports);
• Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year – Winter Sports; and
• NSW Office of Sport Female Athlete of the Year – Jakara Anthony (Winter Sports).

More information about the NSW Institute of Sport award winners is available at www.nswis.com.au/awards

NSWIS

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