Western Australian Institute of Sport athletes dominated at the weekend’s 2009 Womensports West Awards with Olympic Gold medallists Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson toasted as the joint recipients of the Sportswomen of the year award.
Rechichi and Parkinson – who won gold in the 470 sailing in Beijing last year – added the Sportswomen West Award to the athlete of the year award that they last year shared with Steve Hooker at the WAIS annual dinner.
The pair also won the Team of the Year at the annual awards night, which was hosted at the Burswood Entertainment Complex.
WAIS gymnast Lauren Mitchell backed up her recent Athlete Career and Education Award at the WAIS Champions breakfast by being crowned WA’s Junior Athlete of the Year. Mitchell formed an integral part of the Australian women’s artistic gymnastics team in Beijing, where her all-around skills saw her lead the team to a best ever Olympic finish of sixth.
Mitchell also became the first ever Australian female gymnast to win a world cup gold medal, when she defeated a strong international field to take the balance beam final in Madrid, Spain last December.
Mitchell’s coach Martine George made it a WAIS gymnastics double, by being named Coach of the Year for her efforts in guiding Mitchell to the Olympics and world cup success.
WAIS IASP athlete Katrina Porter was bestowed with the Disabled Athlete of the Year, adding to the award she won at the Champions breakfast one week earlier. Porter’s memorable performance in winning gold in the 100m backstroke in world record time in Beijing made her a stand out candidate for the award.
In other awards: Lorraine Schultz received the Master’s Athlete of the Year, whilst Raelene Lyon took out the Official of the Year.
