The NSWIS Award winners: stories of grit, grace ‘n glory

The 2024 New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Awards not only showcased the inspiring performances by some of Australian sport’s greatest names, but it provided the 400-strong audience with an insight into the character – the grit ‘n grace – that drove the winners to glory on the world’s major sporting stages.

Among the outstanding list of finalists in the seven categories was the likes of Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medallists Saya Sakakibara (BMX), Noemie Fox (canoe slalom), Olivia Wunsch (Swimming), Paralympic medallists Dylan Littlehales (canoe sprint), Daniel Michel and Jamieson Leeson (boccia) as well as Mali Lovell (athletics).

Multi-Olympic medallists Melissa Wu (diving) and Shane Rose (equestrian) were also in in contention for awards, as were three members of the Australian water polo team which sealed silver in Paris, Matilda ‘Tilly’ Kearns, Sienna Green and Sienna Hearn.

NSWIS CEO Kevin Thompson’s pre-event admission that the judges had a tough job deciding upon the winners of each of the seven categories due to the quality of the finalists was confirmed when the prestigious Ian Thorpe AM Outstanding Achievement Award was shared by the indomitable Lauren Parker (photographed above) and the unstoppable Jakara Anthony.

Such was the lure of the night, three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox didn’t want to miss the excitement of it despite being on Melbourne Cup duties for Channel Nine in the Victorian capital. Fox appeared – and, larger than life – on the big screens around the room via a live cross to make a thoughtful acceptance speech upon being named Female Athlete of the Year.

The gala dinner at The Star Sydney, which was hosted with a tremendous warmth and energy by Olympian and Channel Seven’s Sunrise host Matt Shirvington, presented dignitaries, including Premier Chris Minns, Australian Olympic Chief Executive Matt Carroll, Paralympics Australia CEO Kate McLoughlin, and NSWIS Chair Gary Flowers, with the opportunity to acknowledge in their speeches the Institute’s contribution to the joy of sport – and an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic year.

That contribution included providing 83 NSWIS Scholarship athletes to the 460-strong Australian team which competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Nineteen of them returned to Australia with prized medals, although the official medal tally notes NSWIS added five gold, six silver and a bronze to Australia fourth place finish on the medal tally, and the nation’s ‘best ever Games’ with 53 medals.

NSWIS’s contribution to the Australian Paralympic team included providing 24 athletes to the 160-member team. These athletes contributed 15 medals – four gold, seven silver and four bronze, as well as 19 top eight finishes – to help guide Australia to ninth place.

Added to that, 13 NSWIS staff members were selected for support roles within the Olympic team, while eight were picked for the Paralympic team.

While Channel Nine’s Head of Olympic coverage, Murray Shaw, provided two emotion-charged videos which recalled the magic of Paris, the efforts of the Institute’s winter program athletes weren’t forgotten. They spearheaded the nation’s hottest ever world cup (and other competitions) performance on the northern hemisphere’s snow and ice with 45 medals and four Crystal Globes.

While the cohort of winners included Olympic and Paralympic medallists, a world-renowned coach, and one of the bright lights of the nation’s sporting and academic future, the dinner allowed 170 NSWIS Scholarship holders a chance to let their hair down and mingle away from the gym and other demands of their training regime.

Indeed, Paris 2024 Paralympic Games dual gold swimming medallist Timothy Hodge and Paris 2024 Olympic Games water polo silver medallist Tilly Kearns captured the excitement and anticipation of the evening before formalities began during their live cross with the ABC’s Daniela Intili.

Besides having Premier Chris Minns, NSW Sports Minister Stephen Kamper, and Shadow Sports Minister Eleni Petinos in attendance, there were numerous heavyweights from Australia’s sporting, corporate and media industries. They witnessed the passion that drives NSWIS when five members of staff – Salvador ‘Chava’ Sobrino (diving coach/28 years), Andrew Dawes (wheelchair racing coach/24 years), Louise Sauvage (wheelchair racing coach/19 years), Peter Topalovic (winter sport/19 years) and David Young (strength & conditioning coach/15 years) were presented with awards by Premier Minns for their years of service.

The 2024 NSWIS Media Awards was a night with plenty to celebrate, but by its end there was no dispute the stars of the night – who did a mighty job of detailing their stories of grit, grace and glory – were the athletes and other award winners.

2024 NSWIS AWARD WINNERS

VALOUR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Timothy Hodge (Swimming)

Award presented by Ryan Tesoriero, Managing Director, Valour

Two gold medals and a silver at 2024 Paris Paralympic Games which added to an amazing list of accomplishments, including Hodge’s 200m individual medley world S9 record.

Tim Hodge: “To stand on top of the podium, it proved my younger self wrong. I remember saying to my mum when I was a kid – I just had my right foot amputated – ‘I’ll never be good at anything now.’ I guess the juxtaposition is it is something that has really defined my life. On the one hand being an amputee; on the other hand, being an elite athlete.

“I know every Paralympian in the room here has their own story of triumph against hardship. I guess, if you want something impossible done . . . you ask a Paralympian.”

NSW OFFICE OF SPORT FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Jessica Fox (Canoe Slalom)

Award presented to by Karen Jones, CEO NSW Office of Sport to Myriam Fox (on Jessica’s behalf).

First canoe slalom athlete to win two gold medals at the same Olympics Games; first Olympic canoe slalom athlete to podium six times; first Australian to win six individual Olympic medals, and she finished 2023-24 as the overall world cup champion.

Jessica Fox: “It was an incredible feeling to sit on that [K1] start line and feel all the nerves . . . all that pressure, . . . the intensity . . . but, also, enjoy the moment and feel the energy from that French crowd which had a lot of Aussies in there – definitely was feeling the love from the Aussies in the crowd. I think I just felt ready for it, and I’m so proud of the way I raced.

“I was one of the first to start in that final, so I had a long wait, but my goal was to cross the finish line with a smile, knowing I’d done a good race and hoping . . . crossing my fingers . . . that it would be enough. It was such a massive build up to that final in Paris, obviously I have tried three times before for that kayak gold, so to finally do it was the most special feeling and to celebrate with our team, my family, and friends who were there – everyone who had supported me – was amazing.”

IAN THORPE AM OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARAD PRESENTED BY POWERADE

Lauren Parker (Para Triathlon and Para Cycling)

Award presented by Gemma Versteeg, Senior Brand Manager, Coca-Cola South Pacific

First Australian in 48 years to win gold medals in two different Paralympic events at the same Games after fighting back from a Pre-Paralympics training accident which forced her body to adjust and adapt to hip pelvis and hip problems.

Lauren Parker: “I was out on a training ride and for months I’d been getting my foot pods developed for my bike and the four bolts that were supposed to hold my foot into place came loose and [my leg] fell to the ground midride at 35km/h.

“My leg smashed into the ground, you know, I have no control over my leg, and it flung back, and I have extensive injuries with my pelvis and changes in my body I’ve had to deal with to get through since March. It came to a point where I had to stop chasing doctors to try and fix myself. I just needed to get preparation done for Paris. I just needed to focus my attention on that, and I’d sort my body out after Paris.

“When I had my accident in March, I thought my career was over – it was that bad. Thankfully it wasn’t and . . . I . . . overcome those setbacks and really pushed through. It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. A tough six months, but I was more than happy with my results [at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.]”

Jakara Anthony (Winter Sport)

Award presented by Gemma Versteeg, Senior Brand Manager, Coca-Cola South Pacific and accepted on Jakara’s behalf by Geoff Lipshut, CEO Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.

Record breaking world cup season, 14 wins and a bronze medal from 16 starts. Besides rewriting the history books as the most successful Moguls skier in a World Cup season, Anthony brought home three Crystal globes.

Jakara Anthony: “I am beyond honoured to be taking home the Ian Thorpe Outstanding Achievement Award presented by Powerade. It’s been such a spectacular year for sport across Australia, and in particular our NSWIS athletes. It was a really exciting season for myself and my team who were able to take home 14 out of 16 World Cup wins which was the most out of any male or female from out sport [moguls] and take home three Crystal Globes on top of that.

“It’s really special to be recognised for that. A massive thank you to NSWIS for their continued support, I’m looking forward to see what we can do in the future.”

SOUTHERN YOUNG ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Award presented by Sam Safi, Southern’s Managing Director.

Twenty-year old Silver medallist at Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming Australia’s first medallist in windsurfing since 1992. Displayed outstanding form in pre-Olympic regattas in Europe.

Grae Morris: “My greatest regatta on top of the Olympics was when I was 14 or 15 in a state championships and I put my dad into retirement the first time I beat him, so he’s not very happy about that! [I wasn’t nervous about being in the hunt for an Olympic medal in Paris] it was awesome, there was three of us in a race deciding what coloured medal we’d get. We’re all good friends and we knew we had to bash it out for about six and a half minutes and be the enemies of each other but in the end, we were all achieving goals that we’d all dreamt of since kids so it was an awesome feeling.”

NSWIS PERSONAL EXCELLENCE

Award presented by NSWIS CEO Professor Kevin Thompson

Scholastic and sporting excellence, including early acceptance to University of NSW Bachelor of Engineering Department after considering opportunities to study at American colleges Princeton, UCLA and Stanford. The 17-year-old – who is doing her Higher School Certificate – also finished her Olympic debut in seventh place.

Ellie Cole: “[Competing at the Olympics] was really surreal and, honestly, I think my favourite part of it was competing. It was a little bit nerve-wracking at the start but progressing through the rounds and the finals I was really happy, It was fun. [It has lit the fire] 100 percent!”

COACH OF THE YEAR

Award presented by NSW Sports Minister, The Honourable Stephen Kamper MP. Myriam photographed with daughter, and Olympic champion, Noemie.

Coached her two daughters, Noemie and Jess, to three Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medals. The success reflects the painstaking work Fox does as she searches for the ‘one-percenters’ to improve her athlete’s performances.

Myriam Fox: “I think it was pretty unique . . .  unbelievable . . . still, I wake up every morning and celebrate the fact that we gold medalled – we couldn’t have brought [back] another one. I look back and the two girls, they were part of NSWIS when they were juniors, and I’m glad to see a lot of juniors here tonight in the sport of canoe slalom and, hopefully, they’ll be there in the future . . . I’m a very proud mum, and a very proud coach.”

SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK AUTHORITY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Athletics.

Award presented by Carla Armanet CEO, Sydney Olympic Park Authority and accepted by NSWIS Athletics coordinator, Michael Perry . . .

. . . and celebrated by the NSWIS team behind the athletics team.

Michael Perry: “We’re quite fortunate to have two of the best female high jumpers [Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson] in Sydney; Mackenzie [Little] has pretty much shown us she’s one of the best throwers in javelin, and then you have the Brandon Starc’s the Mali Lovell’s, Madison de Rozario’s. The athletes are seeing [success] is possible, and I think that it is a thing more and more athletes are actually starting to see what is possible, the more [they’re] starting to believe they can get out and do it as well.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS