The Western Australian Institute of sport hosted its second annual Champions Breakfast this morning to acknowledge and award athletes and staff who have achieved excellence in the past year.
Eamon Sullivan delivered the key note speech, talking of his triumph over adversity and the challenge of keeping motivation after a string of injuries.
The first award of the morning was issued to West Coast Fever netball star, Andrea Gilmore, who was given the WAIS Athlete Career and Education Award.
Gilmore was a first year landscape architecture student in 2007, studying full time while also being selected in the WA State Team and the Perth Orioles squad even though she was still in the WAIS development program. Andrea achieved high distinctions in all her first year units – a fantastic academic result – but it wasn’t at the expense of her netball career, with the 19-year old continuing to progress in leaps and bounds on the court. She was selected in the inaugural West Coast Fever squad, was selected to tour New Zealand with the AIS squad and was named in the National Under-21 team. Andrea is now continuing her studies part-time in 2008.
WAIS cyclist Josie Tomic edged out a quality field including Vicky Parnov (pole vault), Gemma Beadsworth (water polo) and Travis Meyer (cycling) in winning the Junior Athlete of the Year Award.
Tomic won gold medals in the points race and individual pursuit on the track and also took home gold in the time trial on the road. In the individual pursuit she twice broke the world record – a mark which had been standing since 1992. She was the first Australian cyclist to win gold medals on both track and road in the same year at either senior or junior world championship level.
WAIS swimmer Katrina Porter crowned a fine year by winning the Disabled Athlete of the Year Award.
Porter won four gold and two silver at the US Paralympic Championships held at the University of Maryland and was named female swimmer of the meet. She went onto to win gold in the 100m backstroke at the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships in March to book her ticket to Beijing.
The 2008 Triumph Award was bestowed upon WAIS rower Sally Robbins who put herself back into contention for Olympic selection for Beijing despite having to deal with the incredible media interest and intrusion surrounding her.
Even after missing out on Olympic selection, Robbins showed great courage in facing the media and the way in which she acknowledged the efforts of others was considered outstanding.
WAIS Chairman Grant Boyce took the stage to award the Chairman’s Award to Australian Hockey star, Bevan George.
George has been an outstanding competitor and contributor to the men’s national hockey team over a number of years. He was recognised as a World All-star and was named Kookaburras Player of the Year in 2007 and was a Captain of the victorious Thundersticks in the Australian Hockey League back in March of this year.
His efforts in leading by example and encouraging younger players within the Thundersticks squad illustrated his willingness to offer a hand when not involved in the national squad. George always trains and plays at a high level, whether he is representing his country, state or club, making him an ideal recipient of the 2008 Chairman’s Award.
The Best New Initiative Award was granted to Gilman Barnitt, Matt Doyle and Antonio Maurogiovanni who devised a strength and training DVD that allowed the Australian Men’s lightweight four squad to bridge the distance gap between coasts and continue with their normal training schedule.
WAIS cycling Head Coach, Darryl Benson was named the 2008 Coach of the Year.
Benson and his cycling athletes had an amazing 12 months, with WAIS riders bringing home eight medals, including five gold, in Australia’s record haul of 12 from the 2007 World Junior Track Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Not only did Darryl play a role as coach of the five WAIS athletes in Mexico he was also the national junior team coach, overseeing the most successful Australian team ever sent to a junior world championships. Outside of his outstanding results Darryl recognises his role in instilling a high performance culture within his athlete group as well as his wider role as a leader within the sport of cycling in Western Australia. Darryl and his athletes are clearly a credit to WAIS and their sport.
Gymnastics was crowned the 2008 Sports Program of the Year in the final award of the 2008 Champions Breakfast.
The WAIS gymnastics program has had an incredible 12 months, with the program producing five Australian team representatives and collecting an amazing 25 individual international medals – six gold, 10 silver and nine bronze. Notable individual results included Lauren Mitchell placing 5th on beam at the World Championships and winning two World Cup medals, Dasha Joura finishing 10th all around at the World Championships and winning four World Cup medals including a Gold and Olivia Vivian winning two Gold international medals. The program doesn’t just excel in competition however, with their coaches and support staff providing an environment that encourages good life balance, respect for the WAIS values and effective integration of services with strength and conditioning, psychology, ACE and physiology all playing an important role within the program. The level of involvement from their athletes and coaches in activities outside their daily training requirements is outstanding, while their willingness to promote their sport and program has resulted in extensive media coverage including two athletes writing highly successful online blogs.
