Hooker Wins Second Don Award

Western Australian Institute of Sport athlete Steve Hooker has made history becoming the first person to receive the coveted Don Award for the second time.

Hooker won the award at last night’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) function in Sydney, with the Don Award presented to the Australian athlete whose performance in the past 12 months had the greatest capacity to inspire.

The WAIS scholarship holder was deemed that athlete following an incredible effort to win world championship gold in Berlin last August when he overcame the noticeable discomfort of an adductor injury to take victory in a stunning triumph.

Hooker was named the joint recipient of the Don Award in 2008 along with fellow Beijing Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham and maintained his incredible run of form through 2009 with a winning streak that saw him claim titles in the US and through Europe.

The other 2009 finalists were discus thrower Dani Samuels, tennis comeback star Jelena Dokic, legendary horse trainer Bart Cummings, Formula One driver Mark Webber and swimmer Jess Schipper. The SAHOF has been awarding the Don Award since 1998.