Cycling and swimming stole the spotlight at the 2024 WAIS Awards of Excellence, with athletes and coaches from these programs taking top honors across the four prestigious award categories. The event celebrated a groundbreaking year for Western Australian sport, showcasing finalists who included world champions, world record holders, and Olympic gold medallists-the pinnacle of high-performance achievement.
Olympic gold medalists Conor Leahy and Sam Welsford were jointly named WAIS Athletes of the Year. The duo, key members of Australia’s gold medal-winning pursuit team at the Paris Olympic Games, shattered the world record in the team pursuit with an extraordinary time of 3 minutes and 40.730 seconds in their heat.
Young Athlete of the Year was awarded to Iona Anderson for her remarkable year in swimming. Anderson’s 2024 journey included making the Australian Olympic Team, where she placed 5th in the 100m backstroke final, won silver in the 4x100m medley relay, and bronze in the mixed medley relay. Her achievements at the World Championships included gold in the 4x100m medley relay and silver in both the 100m and 50m backstroke events. Anderson also broke a National Age Record previously held by Kaylee McKeown, becoming the fourth-fastest Australian in the 100m backstroke of all time.
Other finalists in this category included stars from rowing: Jacqui Swick, Gen Hart and Rebecca Pretorius, Ben Scott and Alex Baroni.
Cycling was named Program of the Year, edging out Swimming and Women’s Basketball. The program exceeded performance targets, with athletes Kane Perris and Luke Zaccaria earning selection to the 2024 Para Cycling World Championships and setting new national records. Their success continued at the Paris Paralympic Games, where they placed 4th and again lowered the national record.
In the Coach of the Year category, nominees Shane McDonald (Women’s Basketball), Shane Perkins (Cycling), Ben Higson (Swimming), and James Fitzpatrick (Athletics) were recognised for their invaluable contributions. Ben Higson ultimately claimed the award for his outstanding work with WAIS swimmers and exemplary leadership.
Athlete of the Year
2024
WAIS Athlete of the Year – Conor Leahy and Sam Welsford (Cycling)
Nominees
- Conor Leahy and Sam Welsford (Cycling)
- Nina Kennedy (Athletics)
- Matt Wearn (Sailing)
Winners:
- 2024 – Conor Leahy and Sam Welsford (Cycling)
- 2023 – Nina Kennedy (Athletics)
- 2022 – Matt Richardson (Cycling)
- 2021 – Matt Wearn (Sailing)
- 2020 – Not Awarded due to COVID-19
- 2019 – Brianna Throssell (Swimming)
- 2018 – Matt Wearn (Sailing)
- 2017 – Cameron Meyer (Cycling)
- 2016 – Sam Welsford (Cycling)
- 2015 – Caitlin Bassett (Netball), Melissa Hoskins (Cycling)
- 2014 – Kim Mickle (Athletics)
- 2013 – Kim Mickle (Athletics)
- 2012 – Cameron Meyer (Cycling)
- 2011 – Lauren Mitchell (Gymnastics)
- 2010 – Cameron Meyer (Cycling)
- 2009 – Steve Hooker (Athletics)
- 2008 – Steve Hooker (Athletics), Elise Rechichi (Sailing), Tessa Parkinson (Sailing)
- 2007 – Eamon Sullivan (Swimming)
- 2006 – Paul Burgess (Athletics)
- 2005 – Peter Robertson (Triathlon)
- 2004 – Ryan Bayley (Cycling)
- 2003 – Peter Dawson (Cycling)
- 2002 – Peter Dawson (Cycling)
- 2001 – Dmitri Markov (Athletics)
- 2000 – Belinda Stowell (Sailing)
- 1999 – Stuart Reside (Rowing)
- 1998 – Recehlle Hawkes (Hockey)
- 1997 – Darryn Hill (Cycling)
- 1996 – Darryn Hill (Cycling)
- 1995 – Rechelle Hawkes (Hockey)
- 1994 – Richard Nizielski (Ice Speed Skating)
- 1993 – Ramon Andersson (Canoeing)
- 1992 – Sharon Buchanan (Hockey)
- 1991 – Robyn Lambourne (Squash)
- 1990 – Ian Brown (Swimming)
- 1989 – Craig Davies (Hockey)
- 1988 – Craig Parry (Golf)
- 1987 – Christine Stanton (Athletics)
- 1986 – Robert Waller (Cycling)
- 1985 – Jenny Byrne (Tennis)
Young Athlete of the Year
2024
WAIS Young Athlete of the Year – Iona Anderson (Swimming)
Nominees
- Iona Anderson (Swimming)
- Jacqui Swick (Rowing)
- Gen Hart and Rebecca Pretorius (Rowing)
- Ben Scott and Alex Baroni (Rowing)
Winners:
- 2024 – Iona Anderson (Swimming)
- 2023 – Jacqui Swick (Rowing)
- 2022 – Jacqui Swick (Rowing) and Alex Saffy (Swimming)
- 2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
- 2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
- 2019 – Bronwyn Cox (Rowing)
- 2018 – Annabelle McIntyre (Rowing)
- 2017 – Annabelle McIntyre and Bronwyn Cox (Rowing)
- 2016 – Tamsin Cook (Swimming)
- 2015 – Tamsin Cook (Swimming)
- 2014 – Sam Welsford (Cycling)
- 2013 – Alex Hagan and Hannah Vermeersch (Rowing)
- 2012 – Kelsey Robson (Cycling)
- 2011 –
- 2010 –
- 2009 – Sarah Kent (Cycling)
- 2008 – Josie Tomic (Cycling)
Coach of the Year
2024
WAIS Coach of the Year – Ben Higson (Swimming)
Nominees
- Ben Higson (Swimming)
- James Fitzpatrick (Athletics)
- Shane McDonald (Women’s Basketball)
- Shane Perkins (Cycling)
Winners:
- 2024 – Ben Higson (Swimming)
- 2023 – Paul Burgess (Athletics)
- 2022 – Brad Ness (Wheelchair Basketball)
- 2021 – Belinda Stowell (Sailing)
- 2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
- 2019 – Belinda Stowell (Sailing)
- 2018 – Chris O’Reilly (Men’s Hockey)
- 2017 – Paul Oberman (Men’s Water Polo)
- 2016 – Michael Palfery (Swimming)
- 2015 – Michael Palfery (Swimming)
- 2014 – Paul Oberman (Men’s Water Polo)
- 2013 – Grant Ward (Athletics)
- 2012 – Ramon Andersson (Canoeing)
- 2011 – Nikolai Lapchine and Martine George (Gymnastics)
- 2010 – Alex Parnov (Atheltics)
- 2009 – Alex Parnov (Athletics)
- 2008 – Darryl Benson (Cycling)
- 2006 – Alex Parnov (Athletics)
Program of the Year
2024
WAIS Program of the Year – Cycling
Nominees
- Swimming
- Women’s Basketball
- Cycling
Winners:
- 2024 – Cycling
- 2023 – Rowing
- 2022 – Athletics
- 2021 – Canoeing
- 2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
- 2019 – Rowing
- 2018 – Rowing
- 2017 – Swimming – Challenge High Performance Training Centre
- 2016 – Men’s Water Polo
- 2015 – Swimming
- 2014 – Sailing
- 2013 – Canoeing
- 2012 – Canoeing
- 2011 – Cycling
- 2010 – Netball
- 2009 – Canoeing
- 2008 – Gymnastics
- 2007 – Canoeing