Amy Watson wins Blacktown Advocate Junior Sports Star, Imogen Gow Inspiration award
The Blacktown Advocate’s 2019 Junior Sports Star and Inspiration Award winner have been revealed at a gala dinner in Sydney.
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Having claimed a national, international and world title before her 15th birthday, it’s safe to say Amy Watson has taken the indoor skydiving world by storm.
It’s why she has been named the Blacktown Advocate’s Junior Sports Star.
The awards, sponsored by Featherdale Wildlife Park and Bankstown Sports Club, honour top feats in our local communities with Imogen Gow claiming the Blacktown Advocate’s Inspiration Award.
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After winning her first world title earlier this year, Amy cemented her position as Australia’s best young indoor skydiver with gold at the Australian indoor skydiving championships in August.
He sport has taken her onto the international stage as well, thanks to a sponsorship from the Thai Military.
Watson, who is half Thai, can compete at the ASEAN games, which for many countries are as big as the Olympics.
But she hopes to one day compete for the sport she loves at an Olympic Games.
“It feels pretty good,” Amy said of taking out the Junior Sports Star award.
“I didn’t really know if I was going to get the award or not.
“The thing I love the most about indoor skydiving is probably the adrenaline rush, it’s an amazing sport. If it does make it to the Olympics that would be amazing.”
Hamish Barton and Sofia Querubin (taekwondo) were finalists.
Imogen Gow may be a sure-fire AFLW star of the future but her path getting to this point has been anything but easy.
Named Western Sydney Academy of Sport’s athlete of the year in 2018, Imogen has battled people telling her that Aussie rules isn’t a girl’s sport and now hopes to follow in the footsteps of top players.
“This award means a lot to me as AFL isn’t that big here,’’ Imogen said.
“It shows it is growing and that women can do it.
“I just love it. My favourite player is the Giants captain Amanda Ferrugia and she’s one of my inspirations.’’
Blair Overton and Hunar Verma were Inspiration Award finalists.
Each of our Junior Sport publication winners and Inspiration Award winners received $300 and a medal.
Joshua O’Connell (Inner West Courier) was crowned overall Junior Sports Star winner on the night after breaking the world 800m record for 11-year-old’s in April.
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Swimmer John Dimech-O’Connell (Macarthur Chronicle) won the overall Inspiration Award and the under 14s Gosford City Rebels girls basketball team (Central Coast Express Advocate) the overall team award.
The overall Service to Sport winner was Chung Dang (Canterbury-Bankstown Express).