The 2015 Victorian Sport Awards, held at the MCG on 9 March, 2016 was a huge success, with the big winner on the night being tennis. Tennis took home a total of four awards out of the possible fourteen.
The most notable was Dylan Alcott OAM, wheelchair athlete and inspirational speaker who shared the honours with Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne. Alcott also entertained those in attendance with an inspirational and colourful presentation. He spoke of his life journey so far, and how being in a wheelchair has opened up so many doors - he is a man who is making it his mission to ensure there is no stigma attached to being in a wheelchair. Alcott had a remarkable 2015 winning two grand slams, the Australian Open Wheelchair Quad Singles, and the US Open Wheelchair Quad Singles amongst a myriad of other awards.
Payne has had a ground breaking year, becoming the first female jockey to win the prestigious Melbourne Cup, paving the way for other females in the male dominated industry. Along with Alcott’s win, tennis took home the categories of Administrator of the Year (Matthew Kennedy), the Masters Sport Award (Glenn Busby), and the Victorian Official of the Year (Thomas Sweeney).
Three time Olympian Nicole Livingstone OAM was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award for her work not only as an athlete but as a presenter and sports commentator. Livingstone holds the longest winning sequence of any Australian swimmer in history at the national titles, winning 10 consecutive 100m backstroke titles (1987-96). Livingstone was presented the award by 1989 winner of the award and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Steve Monegetthi. Childhood friend, and former teammate, Linley Frame gave Livingstone a touching testimonial.
Well on the way to his second NBA Championship, Andrew Bogut was named the Victorian Male Athlete of the Year for his efforts playing for the Australia Boomers and the Golden State Warriors. Bogut was named as part of the All NBA Defensive Team for his stellar efforts in the 2014/15 season and was a key figure in a Warriors team that would ultimately win the NBA Championship. Bogut also played a big role for Australia, playing against New Zealand in Olympic Qualifiers where Australia achieved a clean sweep of the two games series to qualify for Rio 2016.
Southern Stars captain, Meg Lanning beat fierce competition to be named the Victorian Female Athlete of the Year. Lanning was a critical element of the Southern Stars Ashes victory over England. Playing a pivotal role with the bat and in the field, Lanning helped bring the Ashes back to Australia for the first time since 2001. Lanning also captained Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) side the Melbourne Stars in the inaugural season.
Isis Holt was awarded the Victorian Junior Athlete of the Year for her tremendous efforts in athletics, winning gold medals and setting world records at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha in two events; the T53 100m & 200m.
Socceroos head coach Ange Postecoglou has been named the Victorian Coach of the Year on the back of his success with the Socceroos, winning the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The Socceroos only lost one game on their way to the final where they defeated South Korea 2-1 in extra time. Postecoglou was named the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Coach of the Year after finishing the year with a record of 10 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses.
ABC program Four Corners received the Sport Media Award for their findings and coverage of the dark side of Greyhound racing with ‘Making a Killing’.
The Victorian Fury has been named Team of the Year with yet another undefeated season, notching up their 32nd consecutive win and third straight Australian Netball League title defeating the Southern Force 58-46.
Basketball Victoria was awarded the Sport Development Initiative Award (Full and Associate Member) for the South Sudanese Australian Basketball Slam. 48 teams and over 500 players from Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne gathered in Frankston for the three day tournament.
Maribyrnong City Council won the Sport Development Initiative Award (Local Government Member) for their Sponsorship Assistance Program. Maribyrnong have partnered with Victoria University for students to work with local sporting clubs to help clubs attain sponsorship agreements.
The Victorian Sport Awards were streamed live via Vicsport preferred Supplier My Sport Live. The replay can be viewed at vicsport.com.au/awards/
A full list of winners is below:
- Governor's Award for the Victorian Sportsperson of the Year (Joint Winners Dylan Alcott – Tennis and Michelle Payne – Horse Racing)
- Victorian Male Athlete of the Year - Frank Wilkes Award proudly supported by the State Government of Victoria (Andrew Bogut - Basketball)
- Victorian Female Athlete of the Year - Kitty McEwan Award proudly supported by the State Government of Victoria (Meg Lanning - Cricket)
- Victorian Junior Athlete of the Year proudly supported by My Sport Live (Isis Holt - Athletics)
- Victorian Team of the Year proudly supported by BLK (Victorian Fury - Netball)
- Victorian Junior Team of the Year proudly supported by Sports Accounting Australia (CVI Victorian Junior State Team - Calisthenics)
- Masters Sport Award (Glenn Busby - Tennis)
- Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sport (Nicole Livingstone OAM)
- Victorian Coach of the Year proudly supported by Sportscover (Ange Postecoglou - Football)
- Victorian Official of the Year proudly supported by Three's A Crowd (Thomas Sweeney - Tennis)
- Victorian Sports Administrator - Eunice Gill Award proudly supported by VicHealth (Mathew Kennedy)
- Vicsport Media Award proudly supported by La Trobe University (Four Corners - ABC)
- Sports Development Initiative Award - Full & Associate member proudly supported by Southern Cross Trophies (South Sudanese Australian Summer Slam - Basketball Victoria)
- Sports Development Initiative Award – Local Government member proudly supported by Arthur J. Gallagher (Sponsorship Assistance Program – Maribyrnong City Council)
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