Laura Peel wins two 2020 VIS Awards

***UPDATE 24/11***

Laura did it again! On Tuesday, Laura Peel won her second Victorian Institute of Sport Award for 2020, when she was awarded the VIS Australia Performance Lifestyle award.

This award goes to the athlete who has achieved excellence in their studies, career ambitions, and/or work setting whilst pursuing their dual sporting career. A panel of judges chose Peel as this year’s winner based on her impressive results on and off the slopes. Peel has recently completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences and is now undertaking a Diploma of Modern Languages.

Laura said: "I was a bit surprised to be nominated for this award, but of course very honoured. The VIS is full of some of the most amazing athletes and amazing people, so to win this award is something that is very special to me."

The video of the award presentation is available at: https://youtu.be/-xp07zXuEwo

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Two-time Olympian and 2019-2020 FIS Aerials World Cup winner Laura Peel was today announced as one of the recipients of the 2020 Victorian Institute of Sport Coach Awards, recognising the most deserving athlete in each VIS sport program for the calendar year. Peel was the #1 ranked athlete in the FIS Women's Aerials World Cup standings last season and won the first Crystal Globe of her career.

In her thank you speech from Europe, where she is currently training, Peel acknowledged her coaches and support network. She also sent a message to her teammates, hoping to be soon reunited with the Australian Aerials team when the FIS Aerials World Cup season starts in Ruka (Finland), at the beginning of December.

“I had an amazing season last year but I definitely didn’t do it alone. So a huge thank you to my coaches, to the amazing support crew at Olympic Winter Institute of Australia and the Victorian Institute of Sport and Snow Australia.

"To my amazing teammates, I have been overseas for the last six months and missing you all more than ever. Hoping we will be reunited soon and that we can kick off another successful competition season," Peel said.

Aerial Skiing Coach David Morris was amongst the first to congratulate Peel for the award. He said Peel demonstrated that there are no limitations when hard work is involved. 

"She lifted the standard to a higher level by consistently performing above and beyond expectations.

"This resulted in a career first overall world ranking for the season and has once again, like former Australian Aerial skiers, shone light on prospects for the sport," said Morris.

VIS Aerial Skiing Program Manager Rachel Hunt also highlighted how Peel has a positive influence as a role model for the younger athletes, leading by example with her hard work. 

"Laura shows an ongoing commitment to her own personal excellence regardless of the obstacles. She has been a quiet but strong leader amongst the VIS and Australian Aerial Skiing team," Hunt said. 

The full presentation of the 14 Victorian Institute of Sports Awards winners is available at https://youtu.be/fZ9QxTFhgd0.