Freney’s magical year continues

It was a golden night of glitz and glamour for the state’s sporting stars as London Paralympic heroine Jacqueline Freney continued her fairytale 2012 by winning three gongs at the annual New South Wales Institute of Sport Awards on Thursday night.

Paralympian Liesl Tesch and Olympic canoe slalom silver medallist Jessica Fox, who each won two awards, at the glittering ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground’s Indoor Centre, joined Freney as multiple winners.

Olympic sailing champion Tom Slingsby, wheelchair rugby star Ryley Batt, 400 metre track prodigy Steve Solomon and swimming coach Michael Freney were also announced as winners by the NSWIS Deputy Chairman Alan Jones AO.

Freney, named Australian Paralympian of the Year two weeks ago for her stunning eight gold medal haul in London, took out the Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year, Classic Sportswear Most Memorable Moment and the Office of Communities, Sport and Recreation Regional Athlete categories.

Making it a family affair, Freney’s father and coach Michael took out the Sportspro Coach of the Year.

Freney was overwhelmed by her triple success and paid tribute to her father and the NSWIS.

“It’s definitely an incredible feeling, winning three awards tonight to go with everything else this year,” Freney said. 

“Basically everything I have achieved has been because of my father and coach Michael Freney so I owe it all to him.

“I’ve been an NSWIS athlete since 2007 so they have been on the road with me and have known all my challenges, and everything that I have gone through they have supported me.”

NSWIS CEO Charles Turner said Freney had thoroughly deserved her accolades after what had been a remarkable year.

“What Jacqueline and her father Michael have achieved this year is nothing short of sensational and the reward for many years of hard work and sacrifice,” Mr Turner said.

“The NSWIS and our partners are privileged to be able to support such high calibre athletes in their quest for excellence and we will continue to do so towards the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

“Tonight’s other award winners, the rest of the nominees and indeed all of the NSWIS scholarship holders, coaches and support staff should be congratulated on a wonderful year that saw our athletes win four gold, five silver and five bronze at the London Olympic Games and 12 gold, nine silver and 16 bronze at the Paralympics.”

In the coveted Female Athlete of the Year category Freney was given the nod ahead of both Fox and Tesch who each enjoyed great years in their own right – and both were rewarded.

Fox picked up the Out & About Marketing and Media Junior Athlete of the Year and the University of Sydney Academic Excellence awards, while Tesch, who claimed her first Paralympic gold medal this year, was successful in the University of NSW Career Development and Ian Thorpe OAM Outstanding Achievement categories.

Tesch had previously competed at five Paralympics in wheelchair basketball before switching to sailing for London and breaking through for a maiden victory.

Slingsby, who won the men’s laser event at London’s Olympic regatta, as well as two world championship gold medals in the laser class, a world championship bronze medal in the etchells class and two world cup gold medals was a deserving winner of the ClubsNSW Male Athlete of the Year, while Batt, widely regarded as the best wheelchair rugby player on the planet won the Samsung Electronics Australia Team Athlete of the Year.

In other awards, Olympic 400m finalist Solomon won the Australian College of Physical Education – Academic Excellence – General prize and the Sailing and Athletes with a Disability programs were joint winners of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year.

Full list of awards winners:

The Australian College of Physical Education – Academic Excellence – General: Steven Solomon (Track & Field)

The University of Sydney Academic Excellence: Jessica Fox (Canoe Slalom)

The University of NSW Career Development: Liesl Tesch (AWD Sailing)

Ian Thorpe OAM Outstanding Achievement: Liesl Tesch (AWD Sailing)

Out & About Marketing and Media Junior Athlete of the Year: Jessica Fox (Canoe Slalom)

Classic Sportswear Most Memorable Moment: Jacqueline Freney (AWD Swimming)

Office of Communities, Sport and Recreation Regional Athlete of the Year: Jacqueline Freney (AWD Swimming)

Samsung Electronics Australia Team Athlete of the Year: Ryley Batt (Wheelchair Rugby)

Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year: Athletes with a Disability and Sailing

Sportspro Coach of the Year: Michael Freney (Swimming)

Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year: Jacqueline Freney (AWD Swimming)

ClubsNSW Male Athlete of the Year: Tom Slingsby (Sailing)