Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn crowned 2021 WAIS Athlete of the Year

WAIS sailor Matt Wearn has capped an outstanding year being named WAIS Athlete of the Year, at the 2021 WAIS Annual Awards of Excellence at Crown Towers on November 25.

2021 saw Matt Wearn win Olympic Gold medal in the Laser class, becoming the first WA sailor to win an individual Olympic gold and continuing the illustrious history for Western Australia, as the fourth gold medallist since 2000.

His dominance of the event was evident as he secured gold ahead of the medal race, despite a slow start to the regatta.

Wearn was announced the winner from an outstanding group of four finalists, Brianna Throssell, Ben Popham and Annabelle McIntyre, who all won gold at the Tokyo Games.

In winning the WAIS Athlete of the Year Award, Matt becomes the seventh athlete to be named WAIS Athlete of the Year for a second time, having also won in 2018.

Belinda Stowell (sailing) took out back-to-back coach of the year. Belinda supported three athletes to the Olympic Team, the biggest WAIS representation in history and a quarter of the Olympic Sailing Team. Under her guidance WAIS sailors also continued to excel at youth level with Zac Littlewood winning the under 21 Laser world title.

Canoeing took out program of the year after sending Jaime Roberts and Shannon Reynolds to the Tokyo Games, while Lachlan Armstrong earned national team selection. The paracanoe program has gone from strength to strength with three athletes now categorised as the pathway in WA is as strong as ever.