Sydney University Olympians and Paralympians have dominated finalist nominations for the 2012 NSWIS Awards Dinner; with Prue Watt, Jessica Fox, Olivia Price and Murray Stewart all a chance to take out the highest honours.
Paralympic swimmer Prue Watt, Olympic canoe slalom representative Jessica Fox and Olympic sailor Olivia Price (along with her crew of Nina Curtis and Lucinda Whitty) have taken three of the five finalist spots in the Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year category. All three of these athletes are Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holders. The other finalists are Paralympians – sailor Liesl Tesch and swimmer Jacqueline Freney.
Fox, who won silver in London in the women’s K1 along with three world championship gold medals, is also a finalist in three other categories including The University of Sydney Academic Excellence; Out & About Marketing and Media Junior Athlete of the Year; and Classic Sportswear Most Memorable Moment.
London 2012 gold and bronze medallist Watt is also a finalist in the Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year.
In the ClubsNSW Male Athlete of the Year category, former SUSF EAP scholarship holder and Olympic canoe sprinter Murray Stewart has been named as a finalist. He will be up against Paralympic wheelchair rugby representative Ryley Batt, Olympic sailors Iain Jensen/Nathan Outteridge, Paralympian swimmer Matthew Levy, and sailors Malcolm Page and Tom Slingsby.
Stewart, a member of the victorious men’s K4 1000m crew in London, is also a finalist in four other categories on the night, including The University of Sydney Academic Excellence; Classic Sportswear Most Memorable Moment; and Samsung Electronics Australia Team Athlete of the Year.
SUSF Executive Director Robert Smithies was full of praise for the all of Sydney Uni athletes nominated, all of whom are current or former SUSF EAP scholarship holders.
“I am extremely proud of all of the athletes from Sydney University that have been named as finalists,” said Smithies.
“It’s a tremendous achievement to make an Olympics or Paralympics, and these athletes have produced some great results in London and they have been deservedly recognised for their achievements.”
The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) is a leading high performance sport institute that provides world class coaching, services, and flexible innovative training environments for athletes, along with a focus on athlete welfare, career and educational assistance.
The 2012 NSWIS Awards Dinner takes place on Thursday 15th November 2012 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Here is a list of all Sydney University finalists:
The University of Sydney Academic Excellence
Jennifer Blow – Goalball
Jessica Fox – Canoe Slalom
Nicholas Hough – Track & Field
Murray Stewart – Canoe Sprint
Sarah Stewart – Wheelchair Basketball
The University of NSW Career Development
Thomas Whalan – Water Polo (Men)
Ian Thorpe OAM Outstanding Achievement
Brooke Pratley – Rowing
Murray Stewart – Canoe Sprint
Out & About Marketing and Media Junior Athlete of the Year
Jessica Fox – Canoe Slalom
Nicholas Hough – Track & Field
Classic Sportswear Most Memorable Moment
Jessica Fox – Canoe Slalom
Murray Stewart – Canoe Sprint
Samsung Electronics Australia Team Athlete of the Year
Murray Stewart – Canoe Sprint
Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year
Olivia Price/Nina Curtis/Lucinda Whitty – Sailing
Jessica Fox – Canoe Slalom
Prue Watt – AWD Swimming
For a complete list of finalists and categories, please click here.
