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

Korey Boddington, Alice Williams, MP Tim Mander, Gabi Palm and water polo coach Dusan Damjanovic - Photo Steve Pohlner

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.

BGGS alumni Gabi Palm in action during the Water Polo Gold Medal game. Picture: Adam Head

“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.

Korey Boddington, Alice Williams and MP Tim Mander - Photo Steve Pohlner

“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.”

All Hallows’ School Alice Williams in action during the Water Polo Gold Medal game, Australia V Spain at Paris La Defense Arena. Pics Adam Head

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.

Athlete Awards - Korey Boddington, Alice Williams, Gabi Palm, Dusan Damjanovic, ahead of QAS Athlete Awards.- Photo Steve Pohlner

“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.

Paralympian Gold Medallist Korey Boddington arrives home in Brisbane to parents Elizabeth Chapel and dad Paul (pictured) and partner Chloe Burton after competing in Paris. Pics Adam Head

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.

Korey Boddington of Team Australia. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“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

Originally published as QAS staff lauded by athletes as Minister hails Olympians and Paralympians bound for ceremony