Snowsports Athletes Shine Bright at NSWIS Awards Night
Published Thu 27 Oct 2022
Snowsports Athletes have been celebrated at the prestigious NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Awards, winning five of the seven award categories following Australia’s success at the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
NSW Minister for Sport Alister Henskens acknowledged the high calibre of award finalists and congratulated the winners announced at Thursday night's celebration in Sydney.
“The Awards shine a light on the dedication and achievements in a dynamite year for the Institutes athletes, coaches, staff and support programs,” Mr Henskens said.
“There’s been no shortage of memorable sporting moments. I am inspired by the determination, hard work and commitment of our athletes, who are breaking records and blazing a brighter future for the next generation.”
Taking out top honours was the Olympic champion in women’s moguls at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Jakara Anthony, who won the Office of Sport Female Athlete of the Year. Fellow winter athlete Ben Tudhope won the Valour Male Athlete of the Year for his Paralympic 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.
After guiding Anthony to a record breaking year of 12 World Cup medals, two Crystal Globes and Olympic goldd, her coaches Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey were jointly named Coach of the Year.
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.
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, with Tudhope's bronze.
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.
