Victorian Institute of Sport elite athletes with a disability shone at the 2017 Victorian Disability Sports and Recreation awards on Thursday night, with four VIS athletes awarded top honours for their performance and contribution to their respective sports over the past year.
Rio Paralympian and World Champion sprinter, Isis Holt, was awarded the top honour of Deakin University Female Sportswomen of the Year, capping off an already successful 2017 season for the 16-year old. Earlier this month, Holt defended her dual World Championship title at the London Para-Athletic World Championships when she took out both the T35 200m and 100m sprints in an exhilarating fashion.
Two-time Para-Alpine Skiing Paralympian and VIS scholarship holder, Mitchell Gourley, was honoured for his break-out season, awarded 2017 Male Sportsman of the Year. In 2017, years of dedication and hard work paid off for the Para-Alpine Skier as he won his first ‘Super-Combined’ World Championship title in Tarvisio, Italy.
18 year old middle distance runner, Jarryd Clifford, was awarded the Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year, recognising his athletic achievements over the past year, most notably, his bronze in the 1500m at the recent London Para-Athletic World Championships.
Cycling World Champion and Rio Paralympian, Carol Cooke’s success over the past season was also recognised, as she was awarded Master Sportsperson of the Year. The awards caps off an already success season for the Rio gold medallist, who earlier this year won dual World Cup gold in the Individual Time Trial and Road Race in Emmen, The Netherlands.
The Victorian Disability Sports & Recreation awards aim to recognise the accomplishments of people with disability, those who support them and the inclusive sport and recreation sector across the state.
Image: Victoria Disability Sport & Recreation
