Sydney Uni Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder and multi-class Sydney Uni Swim Club (SUSC) member Sarah Hilt has been chosen as a NSW finalist for this year’s Pride of Australian Medal in the ‘Courage’ category.
Chosen from more than 800 nominations in 10 categories, Pride of Australia finalists are a rare breed of extraordinary individuals who do extraordinary things every day out of the pure guts and altruism in their hearts. Hilt is just one of 33 finalists chosen.
Hilt, 26, lost her left forearm, right fingers and thumb, both legs and her kidneys to meningococcal disease in October 2004.
After only 12 months in the pool Hilt won a bronze medal in the 2011 Para Pan Pacific Championships and trains twice a day with the SUSC at the Sydney University Sports & Aquatic Centre in between her university honours studies in marketing.
This year’s Pride of Australia Medal finalists have been selected by a judging panel of News Limited executives along with former Aussie netball captain Liz Ellis and Network Ten’s Sandra Sully.
The winners will be announced on August 28 at an awards ceremony at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
Premier Barry O’Farrell, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, Puberty Blues star Susie Porter and Underbelly: Badness actress Jodi Gordon will present medals on the day.
Other categories include Bravery, Young Leader, Heroism, Community Spirit, Child of Courage, Environment, Fair Go, Inspiration, and Care and Compassion.
Once a year Hilt’s Theresa Park community gather at Camden Showground for the ‘Walk for Sarah’ to raise money for the Sarah Hilt Foundation and to raise funds to buy Hilt new prosthetic legs. This year’s 5km fun walk is taking place on Sunday October 7.
