WAIS Athlete Cruz Hogan recognised at the WA Young Achiever Awards
WAIS athlete and staff member Cruz Hogan ‘s dedication and persistence has been rewarded, winning the Surge Fitness Sports Award at the WA Young Achievers Awards last week.
With over 300 people packing the Hyatt Hotel, the Javelin thrower was recognised thanks to his performances within Athletics, in addition to professional contributions to the wider sporting community.
“Last season marked a significant milestone in my athletics career as I achieved my best season to date. In Javelin, I clinched my 7th WA open state title, won my 3rd senior national medal, secured the Oceania Championship with a new personal best and championship record, and proudly represented Australia at the World Athletics Championships (held in Oregon, USA), finishing the year ranked within the top 32 athletes in the World” he said.
“Winning the Sports Award as part of the WA Young Achievers Awards was a fantastic way to celebrate my performances in athletics last year, particularly in light of the challenges I’ve faced with major injuries, including two full elbow reconstructions, a complete rupture of my medial collateral ligament (MCL) in my right knee and a partial tear of my right adductor longus muscle – all within a 5-year period” he said.
In addition to training full-time as a WAIS scholarship athlete, Hogan also works at WAIS as a Performance Scientist, providing physiology support to high-performing elite sprint kayak, para-canoe and sailing athletes. Alongside this role, Hogan is an Education Officer with Sport Integrity Australia, delivering educational workshops to aspiring pathway athletes through to elite professional athletes and teams. The 29-year-old has his own aspirations, with his sights firmly set on qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Injuries have been tough but I’m looking forward, with special thanks to my coach Morgan Ward and the Western Australian Institute of Sport for their support and guidance in my journey” he said.
