Kim Mickle Annointed Athletics Australia Athlete of the Year

Western Australian Institute of Sport athlete Kim Mickle and her coach Grant Ward have both received major awards at the 2013 Athletics Australia Awards Night in Melbourne.

World Championship medallist Kim Mickle – won the Eurosport Athlete of the Year award at the Gala Dinner at Crown Palladium, adding to the WAIS Athlete of the Year award she claimed a week prior, in recognition of her exceptional year.

Mickle’s campaign included a silver medal in the women’s javelin at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, where she stretched her personal best to 66.60m – within striking distance of the Australian national record.

Mickle spoke of her shock at receiving the award and said the achievements would spur her on towards greater success in 2014.

“Definitely a surprise,” she said. “It’s capped off a remarkable year. It’s icing on the cake,” Mickle added.

“I want to go one better next year at the Commonwealth Games for sure. I won silver in Delhi and in Moscow this year so the gold is aim for sure. The pre-season is going well so far, the body is healthy and I can’t see anything less than gold as a good result.

“I’m so close toJoanna Stone’srecord. I thought my last throw in Moscow had it but I am not there yet, and it’s unfinished business. Bring on 2014.”

There was also high accolade for Mickle’s long-term coach Grant Ward. Ward received the Australian Sports Commission Senior Coach of the Year award after he assisted Mickle to a career-best season that yielded podium finishes in each competition she competed at both domestic and internationally.

– with Athletics Australia