QAS staff lauded by athletes as Minister hails Olympians and Paralympians bound for ceremony
Queensland’s finest athletes laud the QAS Athlete Awards being reinstated after 41 finalists were unveiled. FULL LIST HERE
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Australia’s youngest Olympic medallist, the silver medal winning Stingers’ water polo side and a world record breaking paralympic track cyclist were among the 41 finalists vying for the Queensland Academy of Sport Athlete Awards.
The awards have been reactivated for the first time since 2011, with winners across 10 categories announced on November 29 at City Hall.
Stingers water polo goalkeeper Gabi Palm, whose team survived three penalty shoot out matches to win a Paris Olympics’ silver medal, said the awards acknowledged athletic excellence, but also the behind the scenes work of QAS staff who had helped Olympians during their journey.
“Having been a part of the QAS program for so long, to finally celebrate not only the athletes but also all the staff and what goes on behind the scenes, is great,’’ Palm said.
“We have a team in the pool, but we would not be there without the team behind us and it is very important the program is recognised as a whole.’’
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander congratulated all 95 award nominees, and the 41 finalists across the 10 award categories.
“The QAS Athlete Awards will bring Queensland’s sporting community together to honour the dedication, passion, excellence and success of our state’s top athletes who inspire future champions,” Mr Mander said.
“After an extraordinary Games cycle, this will be the moment to acknowledge the incredible performances of athletes and coaches in Paris but also the impact of those who have reached the pinnacle of their sporting careers, celebrating retiring Olympic, Paralympic, and National senior athletes.
“Every athlete and coach, regardless of outcome, contributed to Queensland’s success at Paris 2024 and the QAS Athlete Awards will recognise that achievement.”
Nominees include Australia’s youngest ever Olympic medallist, gold medal skateboarder Arisa Trew, incomparable Olympian Emma McKeon (swimming), thrilling hockey rookie Claire Colwill (hockey), discus bronze medallist Matthew Denny, legendary swimming coach Michael Bohl and gold medal winning Paralympic track cyclist Korey Boddington.
All Hallows’ School old girl Alice Williams, a left driver goalscoring machine during the water polo Stingers’ silver medal sweep, said the QAS had played a huge role in helping athletes achieve their Olympic dreams.
“I have been in the QAS program for 10 years and the QAS has been instrumental in me coming up the ranks. The facilities are phenomenal and the access we have to dietitians, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists. The QAS provide the full scope.’’
Teammate Palm agreed: “Everything the QAS provided for us is of the highest quality, the highest care, and we are all very fortunate to be supported all the way through and now theses athlete and programs are off the ground, it is very special.’’
Palm is a Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School alumni who displayed a nerveless performance that helped the Stingers win three penalty shoot out matches on their way to becoming Australia’s most successful water polo team at an overseas Olympics.
Korey Boddington, the Paralympic track cycling ace from the Sunshine Coast, produced a gold medal, world record breaking performance in the Men’s Time trial C4-5, and also a bronze medal in the mixed team sprint C1-5.
“I was so focused on just getting to the Games and being the best athlete I could be,’’ said the 28-year-old, Mountain Creek State High alumni.
“Regardless of my results, I was going to have a win by just being there.
“But what came out of it - two medals - I never expected.’’
Boddington said the QAS’ input in the final eight months leading up to the Games was enormous. “The QAS threw absolutely everything at me. Anything that was going to help me get faster, I was ready and willing to do.’’
Boddington, who suffered a serious motocross injury aged 15, said his love of being on two wheels made his decision to go for the Paralympics track team a natural fit.
QAS Athlete Awards finalist list
The Athlete Award, voted by the athletes
Alexa Leary – Para Swimming
Curtis McGrath – Para Canoe
Kaylee McKeown – Swimming
Matthew Denny – Athletics
Magic Moment of the Paris 2024 Olympics
Arisa Trew – Skate
Cameron McEvoy – Swimming
Kaylee McKeown – Swimming
Keegan Palmer – Skate
Magic Moment of the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Alexa Leary – Para Swimming
Callum Simpson – Para Swimming
Curtis McGrath – Para Canoe
Korey Boddington – Para Cycling
Olympic Athlete of the Cycle
Ariarne Titmus – Swimming
Kaylee McKeown – Swimming
Keegan Palmer – Skate
Mollie O’Callaghan – Swimming
Paralympic Athlete of the Cycle
Benjamin Hance – Para Swimming
Curtis McGrath – Para Canoe
Ella Sabljak – Wheelchair Rugby
Korey Boddington – Para Cycling
Emerging Athlete of the Cycle
Arisa Trew – Skate
Claire Colwill – Hockey
Eithen Leard – Wheelchair Basketball
Pierre van der Westhuyzen – Canoe Sprint
Coach of the Cycle
Dean Boxall – Swimming Australia
Jimmy Owens – Paddle Australia
Michael Bohl – Swimming Australia
Wade Bootes – AusCycling
Development Coach of the Cycle
Ben Newton – Wheelchair Rugby
Shannon Parry – Rugby 7s
Lukas Cannan – Athletics
Kaarle McCulloch – Cycling
High Performance Program of the Cycle – United by Excellence
QAS BMX Freestyle Program
QAS Swimming Program - St Peters Western
QAS Water Polo Program
QAS Wheelchair Rugby Program
Inspiring Extraordinary Sporting Success
Alexa Leary – Para Swimming
Alyce Wood – Canoe Sprint
Cameron McEvoy – Swimming
Emma McKeon – Swimming
QAS Wheelchair Rugby Team
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