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Purchase your ticket here: paralympic.org.au/paralympian-of-the-year-awards-2024/
The cream of Australian Paralympic sport will be celebrated at the Paralympian of the Year Awards on November 30, with competition certain to be fierce after our athletes’ thrilling successes at Paris 2024.
The black-tie event at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast will honour established stars who prevailed under pressure, wide-eyed rookies who seized their moment, champion teams and the coaches who guided them.
Five legends will be immortalised with induction to the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame and the night will also be a chance to recognise those who displayed the best of Australian Paralympic values, such as spirit, teamwork and fair play.
“Australia’s Paralympic athletes never cease to amaze, with their extraordinary skills, resilience and passion,” Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Cameron Murray said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to come together again and honour those who excelled at the Paris Games and in the lead-up, representing Australia so brilliantly to the rest of the world.
“We’re also looking forward to inducting new members to the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame because without the enormous contributions of those who paved the way, the Paralympic movement in Australia wouldn’t be nearly as loved and respected as it now is.”
Australia won 63 medals at Paris 2024, including 18 gold. Among the gold medallists nominated for awards are Qian Yang (table tennis), Alexa Leary (swimming), James Turner (athletics), Curtis McGrath (canoeing), Tim Hodge (swimming) and Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager (rowing).
“I couldn’t be any prouder of the way our Australian Paralympic Team performed in Paris and also the way team members conducted themselves in such a pressurised environment,” Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said.
“Standards of Paralympic sport are rising rapidly and our team’s achievement to again secure a top 10 place on the medal table speaks volumes about the athletes, their coaches and the entire networks around them.
“These awards are our chance to honour those who excelled, but also bring together a range of athletes, officials and staff who each made an important contribution to a mighty Australian effort.”
THE NOMINEES ARE:
| Award | Sport | Nominees |
| Team of the Year | Para Rowing | PR3 Mixed Double Scull |
| Para Swimming | Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay | |
| Para Table Tennis | Women’s Doubles WD20 | |
| Wheelchair Rugby | Wheelchair Rugby Team | |
| Rookie of the Year | Para Swimming | Alexa Leary |
| Para Cycling | Kory Boddington | |
| Para Athletics | Mali Lovell | |
| Para Swimming | Jack Ireland | |
| Coach of the Year | Para Table Tennis | Maggie Meng |
| Para Athletics | Iryna Dvoskina | |
| Para Canoe | Anna Wood | |
| Para Triathlon | Dan Atkins | |
| Male Athlete of the Year | Para Athletics | James Turner |
| Para Swimming | Tim Hodge | |
| Para Canoe | Curtis McGrath | |
| Para Swimming | Callum Simpson | |
| Female Athlete of the Year | Para Triathlon / Para Cycling | Lauren Parker |
| Para Table Tennis | Qian Yang | |
| Para Athletics | Vanessa Low | |
| Para Cycling | Emily Petricola |
The Paralympian of the Year Awards working group included:
Grant Mizens – Paralympics Australia Vice President & Paralympic alumni
Miranda Menaspa – Director of National Performance Support Systems at the Australian Institute Of Sport
Keren Faulkner – Director of the South Australian Sports Institute
Tim Matthews – Paralympics Australia Senior Performance & Talent Advisor, Paralympic alumni & member of Nine’s broadcast team for Paris 2024.
Purchase your ticket here: paralympic.org.au/paralympian-of-the-year-awards-2024/
By David Sygall, Paralympics Australia.
Published 14 November, 2024.
