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Rowing’s golden crew Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager, and dual-sport superstar Lauren Parker feature among a host of Paris Paralympic Games champions in contention for major prizes at the AIS Sport Performance Awards in Melbourne early next month.
Ayers and Altschwager, the PR3 mixed double sculls crew who won Australia’s first Paralympic rowing gold medal, and Parker who achieved the rare feat of winning gold in two sports at one Games, are among the finalists for Performance of the Year.
They have been named alongside swimming stars Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus, and cycling stars Grace Brown and Saya Sakakibara, all of whom won gold medals at the Paris Olympic Games.
Ayers and Altschwager are also in the running for Team of the Year, their coach Christine MacLaren is a finalist for Coach of the Year and Ayers is a finalist for the Community Engagement Award. It caps off a remarkable year for the rowing crew, though they were certainly not the only ones to experience great success.
“I’m glad I don’t have to pick the winners because there are so many incredible athletes and performances among the finalists,” Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said.
“Lauren, Jed and Nikki earned amazing results at the Paralympics, bringing great joy and inspiration to so many Australians, just as the other finalists for Performance of the Year did.
“I’m pleased for them and I’m also really happy to see Callum Simpson and Korey Boddington in the running for Emerging Athlete of the Year because what they did in the pool and at the velodrome in Paris was extraordinary. Callum was the youngest male on the Australian Paralympic Team and won an individual swimming gold medal and relay gold and silver, while Korey also grabbed his opportunity winning an individual cycling gold medal and a bronze medal in a team event.
“The ASPAs is a special night for Australian sport and we thank the AIS and Australian Sports Commission for hosting what I’m sure will be a memorable event.”
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said: “2024 in sport has been a resounding success however you measure it.
“Australian high performance sport has never been so united through our commitment to the Win Well Strategy and the results of the past 12 months show we are on the right track with our home Games in Brisbane now just eight years away.
“While it’s no surprise our Olympians and Paralympians from Paris have dominated the list this year, it is pleasing to also see our winter and Commonwealth Games sports represented as they build-up to pinnacle events 2026.
“Congratulations to all our finalists. I look forward to celebrating what has been achieved next month.”
2024 AIS Sport Performance Awards Finalists
Performance of the Year
Ariarne Titmus, Swimming Australia
Australian PR3 Mixed Double Team, Rowing Australia
Grace Brown, AusCycling
Kaylee McKeown, Swimming Australia
Lauren Parker, AusCycling and AusTriathlon
Saya Sakakibara, AusCycling
Female Para-athlete of the Year
Alexa Leary, Swimming Australia
Lauren Parker, AusCycling and AusTriathlon
Qian Yang, Table Tennis Australia
Vanessa Low, Athletics Australia
Male Para-athlete of the Year
James Turner, Athletics Australia
Thomas Gallagher, Swimming Australia
Timothy Hodge, Swimming Australia
Female Able-athlete of the Year
Ariarne Titmus, Swimming Australia
Jakara Anthony, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia
Jessica Fox, Paddle Australia
Kaylee McKeown, Swimming Australia
Male Able-athlete of the Year
Cameron McEvoy, Swimming Australia
Keegan Palmer, Skate Australia
Matt Wearn, Australian Sailing
Coach of the Year
Christine MacLaren, Rowing Australia
Dean Boxall, Swimming Australia
Myriam Fox, Paddle Australia
Peter McNiel, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia
Emerging Athlete of the Year
Arisa Trew, Skate Australia
Callum Simpson, Swimming Australia
Grae Morris, Australian Sailing
Korey Boddington, AusCycling
High Performance Program of the Year
Athletics Australia High Performance Unit
Dolphins, Swimming Australia
Paddle Australia
Surfing Australia
Team of the Year
4x100m Women’s Freestyle Relay team, Swimming Australia
Aussie Stingers, Water Polo Australia
Men’s K4 500, Paddle Australia
Men’s Team Pursuit, AusCycling
PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, Rowing Australia
Win Well Award
Athletics Australia High Performance Program
Bowls Australia
CombatAUS
Gymnastics Australia High Performance Team
Sport Volunteer of the Year Award
Brendon Oliver-Ewen, Hobart OUT Tennis / Tennis Australia
Cristelle Mulvogue, Collingwood Park Power AFC / AFL
David Conran, Centenary Archers Club / Archery Australia
Julie Keillor, Shepparton Canoe Club /Paddle Australia
Community Engagement Award
Felicity Turner, Skate Australia
Nikki Ayers, Rowing Australia
Rhydian Cowley, Athletics Australia
Serena Bonnell, Bowls Australia
By David Sygall, Paralympics Australia.
Published 18 November, 2024.
