Carissa Uno and Ky Woods claim Parramatta Advertiser’s top Local Sports Star awards for 2018
A trailblazer and an adrenaline seeker have taken out the Parramatta Advertiser’s top awards at the 2018 Local Sports Stars gala awards night
Parramatta
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Trailblazing aerobic gymnast Carissa Uno and thrillseeking motocross star Ky Woods have taken out the top prizes for the Parramatta Advertiser at the 2018 Local Sports Stars gala awards night at Bankstown Sports Club.
Carissa, 18, from Greystanes, was named this year’s Junior Sports Star winner while 11-year-old Ky Wood, who also hails from Greystanes, won the Young Sporting Spirit award.
There are few people in the world who can hold a candle to Carissa when it comes to aerobic gymnastics.
She became a back-to-back world champion in the sport this year after claiming gold for Australia at the 2018 International Aerobic Championships.
Carissa says she takes pride in being able to lead the sport towards a greater horizon.
“I think it really needs to grow in numbers,” she said.
“Us as senior athletes, we … really want to inspire young gymnasts to take on this discipline in order to grow the sport for the (Olympic) committee to see that it’s worthy enough for the Olympics.”
After spending several years at the top of the sport, Carissa says she’s looking forward to a new challenge next year as she enters the senior division.
“It’s going to be a bit of a challenge to remain in the titles that I have but I’m definitely willing to take it on and grow my successes in the senior category as well.”
Meanwhile Ky has quickly become one of Australia’s best young motocross stars.
The peak of his young sporting career came earlier this year when he overcame a crash at the Australian trials for the Junior Motocross World Championship to earn a wildcard entry to the event.
The overall Young Sporting Spirit award went to Forestville footballer Jacob Trzecinski, 17, while 16-year-old Strathfield diver Sam Fricker was named the overall Junior Sports Star.
The event also saw a host of current stars from all walks of the sporting landscape, including Parramatta Eels star Nathan Hindmarsh and NSW Swifts player Sarah Klau, gather to meet with the stars of the future and their families.