Parker’s remarkable Paris performance celebrated at AIS Awards

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Scholarship athlete Lauren Parker’s history making double gold in Para cycling and Para triathlon in Paris saw her claim two awards at the AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs) at Centrepiece in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Parker, who also took silver in cycling’s H1-3 individual time trial, was named Female Para athlete of the Year for the second year running with her incredible efforts also earning her Performance of the Year.

The High Performance Program of the Year award went to Paddle Australia after recording their most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games which included winning every female Paris Olympic gold medal on offer in canoe slalom thanks to NSWIS athletes Jessica and Noemie Fox.

The ASPAs are the only annual national awards that celebrates the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, coaches, volunteers and leaders in Able and Para Australian high performance sport.

Thirteen awards were presented on the night, with the finalists judged not only on their success on the sporting arena, but also how they bring Australian sport’s united commitment of “we win well to inspire Australians” to life.

Swimmer Kaylee McKeown claimed back-to-back Female Able athlete of the Year awards after defending her 100m and 200m backstroke golds in Paris, while also adding a silver medal as part of the women’s 4x100m medley relay and bronze in the 200m IM.

Sprinter James Turner’s double gold in the T36 400m and 100m events at the Paris Paralympics which included setting a new world record and equalling a Paralympic record saw him take home another Male Para athlete of the Year title, while sailor Matt Wearn was named Male Able athlete of the Year again after defending his Olympic title in the men’s dinghy in Marseille.

Skate, bowls and cycling also took home awards with Arisa Trew’s gold in the women’s park skateboarding event at the Paris Games and 2024 X Games win earning her the Emerging Athlete of the Year title.

Outgoing Paddle Australia CEO Phil Jones received the Service to Sport award. Paddle also took out the Sport Volunteer of the Year award with Julie Keillor (photographed with Jessica Fox) from the Shepparton Canoe Club recognised for her work growing the club’s All Abilities Paddling Program and helping Para athletes take to the water.

Australian Sports Commission (ASC) CEO Kieren Perkins OAM congratulated the winners and finalists and said the event was a wonderful way to reflect and celebrate the incredible achievements of Australian high performance sport in 2024.

 “The performances we are celebrating tonight reflects our united commitment to winning well and inspire Australians,” Perkins said.

“There has been so many outstanding achievements this year across Australian high performance sport and I can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring as we look towards the Winter Olympics and Paralympics and Commonwealth Games in 2026, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

 “I’d also like to thank the Australian Government for their ongoing support of our athletes including record funding for high performance sport and commitment to upgrading the AIS Campus in Canberra which will provide us with a strong platform for future success.”

2024 ASPAs award winners: Emerging Athlete of the Year: Arisa Trew, Skate Australia Community Engagement Award: Serena Bonnell, Bowls Australia High Performance Program of the Year: Paddle Australia Sport Volunteer of the Year: Julie Keillor, Shepparton Canoe Club/Paddle Australia Male Able Athlete of the Year: Matt Wearn, Australian Sailing Male Para athlete of the Year: James Turner OAM, Athletics Australia Female Para athlete of the Year: Lauren Parker, AusCycling & AusTriathlon: Female Able Athlete of the Year: Kaylee McKeown, Swimming Australia Win Well Award: Bowls Australia Coach of the Year: Dean Boxall, Swimming Australia Team of the Year: Men’s Team Pursuit, AusCycling Performance of the Year: Lauren Parker, AusCycling & AusTriathlon Service to Sport Award: Phil Jones, Paddle Australia.

ABOUT THE ASC: The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport at all levels. Our role is to increase involvement in sport and enable continued international sporting success through leadership and development of a cohesive and effective sports sector, targeted financial support and the operation of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).