Magnussen and Fox scoop major NSWIS Awards

World championship heroes James Magnussen and Jessica Fox have capped standout performances in the sporting arena in 2013 by clean sweeping the major gongs at the New South Wales Institute of Sport Awards held at the Australian Turf Club on Thursday night.

Both Magnussen and Fox won silver medals at last year’s London Olympics before parlaying their efforts into world championship gold in 2013. Magnussen claimed the ClubsNSW Male Athlete of the Year award for the second time, whilst Fox graduated from the junior ranks to claim the Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year award.

The pair was joined in the winner’s circle by Paralympic swimming stars Matthew Levy and Maddison Elliott, junior rowing world champions Jessie Allen and Genevieve Horton, winter sport starlet Sami Kennedy-Sim, as well as Magnussen’s long-time coach Brant Best and all-time great wheelchair athlete turned coach Louise Sauvage.

The awards night, hosted by NSWIS Deputy Chairman Alan Jones AO, attracted some of the state’s highest profile sportsmen and women and recognised athletes and coaches in a range of categories including academic excellence, career development, team and individual performances.

NSWIS CEO Charles Turner said Magnussen and Fox had thoroughly deserved their accolades and paid tribute to all the award winners and nominees.

“What James and Jessica have achieved in 2013 is nothing short of sensational and the reward for many months of hard work and sacrifice here at the NSWIS,” 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 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“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 and I wish them the best of luck in the future.”

Having endured a difficult 12 months in and out of the water Magnussen rebounded from his 2012 Olympic campaign to successfully defend his men’s 100m freestyle world title at the 2013 FINA Aquatic World Championships in Spain.

Turning in fifth place at the 50m mark, Magnussen turned on his trademark back-end speed to power home and claim his second consecutive world crown. Magnussen said he was humbled to be acknowledged by the NSWIS and paid tribute to the fantastic team behind him for assisting him in his stellar season.

"I think the NSWIS Awards is a great night. It’s a chance to recognise what a great institution the NSWIS is, and I’m very grateful for their acknowledgement tonight," Magnussen said.

"It was a really important year for me to prove to myself more than anything that I am still at the top of my game and things are looking bright for the future.

"The NSWIS has been fantastic over the past year and without their support I wouldn’t be where I am today."

Fox earned rave reviews in 2013 for her performances at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships where she won gold in the women’s C1, before teaming with fellow NSWIS athletes Rosalyn Lawrence and Alison Borrows in the women’s C1 team event.

The 19-year-old, who also took home the Australian College of Physical Education Academic Excellence (General) award, was ecstatic with her achievements and thanked the NSWIS for their tremendous support.

"I’m really proud to be part of the NSWIS and they have supported me for the last four years so to be recognised in this way is fantastic and I know there’s a lot of other athletes in the room who are equally deserving so I’m very humbled and honoured," Fox said.

"The NSWIS has been part of my journey since the London Olympics and we have worked very closely with coaching, athlete career education and strength and conditioning so I really can’t thank them enough."

In other awards, rower Erik Horrie took home the Mizuno Most Memorable Moment prize for winning gold in the men’s arms and shoulders single scull at the 2013 FISA World Rowing, shaving 10 seconds off the previous world record, whilst teen cyclist Jack Edwards won the Out & About Media and Marketing Junior Athlete of the Year award.

Full list of awards winners:

The Australian College of Physical Education Academic Excellence (General): Jessica Fox (Canoe Slalom)

The University of Sydney Academic Excellence: Nicholas Hough (Track & Field)

Career Development: Matthew Levy (AWD Swimming)

Ian Thorpe OAM Outstanding Achievement: Sami Kennedy-Sim (Winter Sports)

Out & About Marketing and Media Junior Athlete of the Year: Jack Edwards (Cycling)

Mizuno Most Memorable Moment: Erik Horrie (Rowing)

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

Samsung Electronics Australia Team Athlete of the Year: Jessie Allen & Genevieve Horton (Rowing)

Sydney Olympic Park Authority Program of the Year: Canoe Slalom

The Australian College of Physical Education Coach of the Year: Brant Best (Swimming) & Louise Sauvage (Wheelchair Track & Road) 

Sydney City Toyota Female Athlete of the Year: Jessica Fox (Canoe Slalom)

ClubsNSW Male Athlete of the Year: James Magnussen (Swimming)