Paralympics Australia awards explained

Paralympics Australia recognises the achievements of Paralympic athletes, coaches and administrators through several awards. These awards generally relate to performances at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and are not necessarily awarded annually.

Australian Paralympian of the Year

YearAthlete
1994Louise Sauvage (Athletics)
1995Priya Cooper (Swimming)
1996Louise Sauvage (Athletics)
1997Louise Sauvage (Athletics)
1998Louise Sauvage (Athletics)
2000Siobhan Paton (Swimming)
2002Michael Milton (Alpine skiing)
2004Tim Sullivan (Athletics)
2008Matthew Cowdrey (Swimming)
2010Cameron Rahles-Rahbula (Alpine skiing)
2012Jacqueline Freney (Swimming)
2016Dylan Alcott (Wheelchair tennis) [1]
2020Madison de Rozario (Athletics)
2022Ben Tudhope (Snowboarding) [2]
[3]

Male Athlete of the Year

YearAthlete
2008Matthew Cowdrey (Swimming)[4]
2010Cameron Rahles-Rahbula (Alpine skiing)
2012Evan O'Hanlon (Athletics)
2016Dylan Alcott (Wheelchair tennis)
2020Curtis McGrath (Canoeing)
2022Ben Tudhope (Snowboarding)

Female Athlete of the Year

YearAthlete
2008Lisa McIntosh (Athletics)
2010Jessica Gallagher (Alpine skiing)
2012Jacqueline Freney (Swimming)
2016Maddison Elliott (Swimming)
2020Madison de Rozario (Athletics)
2022Melissa Perrine (Alpine skiing)

Rookie Athlete of the Year

YearAthlete
2008Peter Leek (Swimming)
2012Maddison Elliott (Swimming)
Rheed McCracken (Athletics)
2016James Turner (Athletics)
2020William Martin (Swimming)
2022Josh Hanlon (Alpine skiing)
Award changed from Junior to Rookie Athlete of the Year in 2016.

Coach of the Year

YearCoach
2008Iryna Dvoskina (Athletics)
2010Steve Graham (Alpine skiing)
2012Peter Day (Cycling)
2016Iryna Dvoskina (Athletics)
2020Louise Sauvage (Athletics)
2022Par Sundqvist (Snowboarding)

Team of the Year

YearTeam
2008Men's Wheelchair Basketball (Rollers)
2012Wheelchair Rugby Team (Steelers)
Sailing SKUD18 Crew Daniel Fitzgibbon & Liesl Tesch
2016Australian Paralympic Sailing Team
Matthew Bugg (Single person 2.4mR),
Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (Two person Skud 18),
Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden, Jonathan Harris (Three person Sonar)
2020 Women’s Table Tennis (Class 9-10) Team
Melissa Tapper, Qian Yang, Lina Lei

Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal for the Spirit of the Games

Named after indigenous wheelchair basketballer Kevin Coombs. The Medal is awarded to the athlete that embodies the 'spirit of the Games'.[5]

YearTeam
2016Liesl Tesch (Sailing)
2020Stuart Jones (Cyclist)

President’s Award for Excellence in Sportsmanship

YearAthlete
2008Kurt Fearnley (Athletics)
2010Toby Kane (Alpine skiing)[6]
2012Libby Kosmala (Shooting)
Kieran Modra (Cycling)
2016Kate McLoughlin (2016 Chef de Mission)
2020Daniela Di Toro

Paralympic Achievement Award

YearAthlete
2010Individuals - David Baker, Pamela Baker, Steve Mason and Belinda Green
Corporate - 360HR
2012Matthew Cowdrey (Swimming)

Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame

It was established in 2011 to recognise individuals that have made a significant contribution to Australia's paralympic achievements and to enhance the profile of Paralympians in the Australian community.[7]

YearName
2011Louise Sauvage(Athlete)
2011Frank Ponta (Athlete)
2011Sir George Bedbrook (Administrator)
2016Kevin Coombs (Athlete)
2016Tracey Freeman (Athlete)
2016David Hall (Athlete)
2016Daphne Hilton (Athlete)
2016Ron Finneran (Administrator)
2016Adrienne Smith (Administrator)
2022Libby Kosmala (Athlete)
2022Priya Cooper (Athlete)
2022Michael Milton (Athlete)
2022Matthew Cowdrey (Athlete)
2022Kurt Fearnley (Athlete)

Australian Paralympic Medal

This award recognises significant long term contribution to Paralympic sport in Australia and is the highest honour for a non-athlete.[3] [8]

YearName
2001Marie Little
2002Ron Finneran
2004Adrienne Smith
2005Nick Dean
2008Scott Goodman
2010Paul Bird
2010Ken Brown
2010John Coates
2010Doug Denby
2010Rod Kemp
2015Nick Dean
2022John Wylie

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alcott crowned Paralympian of the Year. Australian Paralympic Committee News. 18 October 2016.
  2. Web site: 9 June 2022 . De Rozario And Tudhope Earn Top Honours at Paralympics Australia Awards . 10 June 2022 . Paralympics Australia.
  3. Book: Annual Report 2011-12. 2012. Australian Paralympic Committee. Sydney.
  4. Book: Annual report 2007-2008 . 2008 . Sydney . Sydney .
  5. Web site: Six inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame. Australian Paralympic Committee. 9 December 2016. 5 October 2023.
  6. Book: Annual report 2009-2010. 2010. Australian Paralympic Committee. Sydney.
  7. Web site: Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame . Australian Paralympic Committee website . 10 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120207221048/http://www.paralympic.org.au/apc-programs/australian-paralympic-hall-fame/australian-paralympic-hall-fame . 7 February 2012 .
  8. Web site: Goodman honoured with prestigious Paralympic Medal. Athletics Australia News, 24 October 2008. 10 April 2013.