The Victorian Institute of Sport would like to congratulate all finalists and award winners of the 30th Anniversary Award of Excellence.
Award of Excellence
The Award of Excellence (AOE) is the Pinnacle of VIS Awards and is awarded to the athlete who has achieved outstanding sporting results at major events during the year, while contributing to the promotion and development of their sport and/or making a significant contribution to society beyond pure sporting performance.
Finalists
Dylan Alcott AO
Wheelchair Tennis
Emily Petricola
Para-Cycling
Women's Four (Lucy Stephan, Jessica Morrison, Rosie Popa)
Rowing
Winner(s)
Dylan Alcott AO | Wheelchair Tennis
Dylan Alcott AO declared 2021 was going to be his fourth and final Paralympic appearance, finishing his Paralympic campaigns with four gold and two silver medals from his tennis and basketball competitions. He successfully defended his wheelchair Quad Paralympics singles gold medal in Tokyo and won silver with Quad Doubles partner and fellow VIS scholarship holder, Heath Davidson.
The wheelchair tennis ace and well-recognised disability advocate, also became the first man in any form of tennis to win a Golden Slam – all four major titles and a Paralympic gold medal in the same calendar year.
Women's Four | Rowing
Victorian Institiute of Sport scholarship holders Lucy Stephan OAM, Jessica Morrison OAM and Rosie Popa OAM were three of the four members that won gold in the Women’s Coxless Four event at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 2020 Games saw the return of the Women’s Four event to the Olympic rowing program after a 30-year absence. Australia topped the podium after narrowly holding off the Netherlands by less than half a second to win gold with a time of 6:15.37 — an Olympic record — while Ireland came third.
Stephan and Morrison were both part of the Women’s Eight crew who received a late call up for the 2016 Rio Olympics, and have since used their experiences to help lead the Australian rowing team. Popa complimented the team nicely, making her Olympic debut at Tokyo, after a stress fracture prevented her from being selected for Rio.
2XU Rising Star Award
The 2XU Rising Star Award is presented to an athlete who is eligible to compete in their sport’s ‘age grade’ categories (maximum age U/23) who has achieved outstanding sporting results during the year, complemented by demonstrable success in other areas of their life.
Finalists
Brendon Smith
Swimming
Col Pearse
Para-Swimming
Isis Holt
Para-Athletics
Jaryd Clifford
Para-Athletics
Winner
Jaryd Clifford | Para-Athletics
Jaryd Clifford is the recipient of the 2XU Rising Star Award after a tremendous few years on the track.
Legally blind, the 22-year-old produced one of the most courageous campaigns of distance running by a Paralympian in Tokyo, winning a medal in each of his three events; silver in both the Marathon and the 5000m, and a bronze in the 1500m. At the time his devastation was palpable - gold eluded him - but he has since realised that disappointment and immense pride can coexist.
Away from the track, Jaryd is studying a Bachelor of Law & Justice at the University of Melbourne and is a passionate advocate of the Paralympic movement.
Para Athlete Award
The Para Athlete Award is presented to the Para athlete who has achieved outstanding sporting results during the year, complemented by demonstrable success in other areas of their life.
Finalists
Dylan Alcott AO
Wheelchair Tennis
Emily Petricola OAM
Para-Cycling
Lina Lei OAM
Para-Table Tennis
Qian Yang OAM
Para-Table Tennis
Winner
Dylan Alcott AO | Wheelchair Tennis
Dylan Alcott AO declared 2021 was going to be his fourth and final Paralympic appearance, finishing his Paralympic campaigns with four gold and two silver medals from his tennis and basketball competitions. He successfully defended his wheelchair Quad Paralympics singles gold medal in Tokyo and won silver with Quad Doubles partner and fellow VIS scholarship holder, Heath Davidson.
The wheelchair tennis ace and well-recognised disability advocate, also became the first man in any form of tennis to win a Golden Slam – all four major titles and a Paralympic gold medal in the same calendar year.
Sarah Tait Spirit Award
The Sarah Tait Spirit Award recognises the athlete who most encompasses the spirit of the VIS. This athlete has demonstrated courage, commitment and persistence to achieve their sporting goals, whilst showing the ability to inspire and bring out the best in others, engage with and bring pride to their community.
Finalists
Anabelle Smith
Diving
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Watson
Netball
Rachael Lynch
Hockey
Winner
Annabelle Smith | Diving
Like the Award’s namesake, Anabelle Smith is an inspiration in life as well as diving and is the recipient of the very special Sarah Tait Spirit Award.
The triple Olympian is one of the most giving athletes within the Australian sporting community and will always put her hand up to give back to her sport and the community in general to inspire the next generation of athletes and leaders.
Hidden beneath her bright, bubbly and unassuming demeanour, Smith is an extremely tough, gritty and resilient athlete. To be able to handle everything that has been thrown her way in the last two years, from cancelled events to several interstate relocations, has been nothing short of remarkable, and she always continues to do so with a positive mindset on life.
Smith throughout her career has been involved in various committees shaping Australian elite sport alongside public speaking initiatives and ambassadorial roles with various charities and companies.
In addition, Smith has also managed to complete a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at ACU and has coached at various schools across Melbourne over the last ten years.
Open Universities Australia Performance Lifestyle Award
Awarded to the athlete who has achieved personal excellence in their studies, career ambitions, and/or work setting whilst pursuing their dual sporting career. This award epitomises the VIS motto of ‘Success in Sport and Life’.
Finalists
Elena Galiabovitch
Shooting
Gabrielle Coffey
Netball
Nicholas Hum
Para-Athletics
Winner
Elena Galiabovitch | Shooting
Dr Elena Galiabovitch has been awarded the Open Universities Australia (OUA) Performance Lifestyle Award for achieving success in her working life and with her sporting ambitions. Galiabovitch epitomises the VIS’ motto of ‘Success in Sport and Life.’
For the past 2 years Elena has been working on two frontlines. Dr Galiabovitch has been busy working on Melbourne’s medical front line, caring for some of the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients. While as an elite athlete living in Victoria’s extended lockdowns, she was forced to adapt, and then re-adapt her training remotely, shooting via a simulator.
Despite the long training hours and unpredictable workload, Elena was rewarded with her second Olympic berth in Tokyo, where she competed in the women’s 10m Air Pistol and the 25m Pistol events.
She was also recognised for her frontline efforts, chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to carry the Olympic flag at the Opening Ceremony – an honour she describes as the “greatest in her sporting career.”
