Mizuno Junior Athlete of the Year 2017 Finalists

Each year the Mizuno Junior Athlete of the Year award identifies junior NSWIS athletes who have produced excellent sporting performances at the junior level, while also making a significant impact on the senior sporting ranks.

Previous winners of the award have gone on to forge successful international careers, including road cyclist Caleb Ewan, Olympic silver and bronze medallist Jessica Fox and Paralympic gold medallist Maddi Elliott.

This year, those vying for the chance to be crowned Mizuno Junior Athlete of the Year are:

• Tess Coady (Winter Sports): The 16-year old won gold in the snowboard slopestyle and big air events at the FIS Junior Snowboard World Championships, while also claiming two top-eight finishes on the senior World Cup circuit
• Noemie Fox (Canoe Slalom): A K1 team bronze medallist at the U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships, Fox broke through in the senior ranks with a silver medal in the C1 team event at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
• Adam Lambert (Winter Sports): A bronze medal in the team snowboard cross highlighted Lambert’s junior world championships campaign, but it was becoming the first Australian Europa Cup champion and a world championship top-10 that highlighted Lambert’s rise into the senior ranks
• Dylan Littlehales (Para Canoe Sprint): Without races at the junior level, 17-year old Littlehales marked his potential with a top-five result at the Para-Canoe World Championships, as well as four medals at the Australian championships
• Teigan O’Shannassy (Netball): The youngest member of the Australian team that won the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup, O’Shannassy was also selected as a training partner for the inaugural Giants netball season

“Supporting young athletes is an important part of our relationship with the NSW Institute of Sport, and sponsoring the Mizuno Junior Athlete of the Year Award fits perfectly with that goal” said Jason Crawford, National Sales Manager for Mizuno. 

“Good luck to the junior athletes nominated, now and throughout your sporting career.”