Brown becomes the fifth cyclist in VIS history to win the coveted award, joining household names in Katie Mactier, Cadel Evans AM, Leigh Howard and Para cyclist, Carol Cooke AM, etching her place in the VIS’ annals.
The Award of Excellence recognises the most outstanding achievement in high performance sport by a VIS athlete.
Through her extraordinary achievements this season, Brown has truly solidified her legacy within the Australian cycling community and beyond.
In April, she became the first Australian woman to win a Monument; one of the great one-day races in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Paris Roubaix or the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Shortly after, she announced she would retire at the end of the year then went on to win Olympic gold in the Individual Time Trial (ITT). In doing so, she became the first Australian woman to medal in the Olympic ITT and the first Australian - man or woman - to win gold in that event.
Her golden glory continued at the UCI World Championships in Switzerland two months later where she took home two world titles in the ITT and the Mixed Road Team Time Trial.
Her dream retirement year closed out in style as she won her last professional race, the Chrono de Nations, while wearing the iconic rainbow jersey of world champion.
“I’m very honoured to win this award, I’ve been up against some exceptional finalists and in a year where we have the Olympics, Paralympics and so many huge sporting events, I’m really blown away to be the one receiving this award because this room is full of exceptional performances,” said Brown.
Image: VIS cyclist, Grace Brown, shares her challenges prior to her successful year in her Award of Excellence acceptance speech.
“At the start of the year there were some definite struggles. I was at the VIS very regularly, seeing Alison Low [VIS physiotherapist] for maybe 10 hours per week during my off season, trying to get me back up and running.
“In my final year in the sport… I think that’s what it gave me too, the superpower to go all in and make sure that I left no stone unturned.
“Thank you everyone for supporting me, thank you for being on the journey. Keep doing all the good work, keep achieving and making Victoria proud. I’m very proud to be a part of this state.”
Brown was among four finalists for the 2024 Award of Excellence, with Paralympic gold medallist and World Champion Para cyclist, Emily Petricola OAM, dual Paralympic gold medallist in Para table tennis, Qian Yang OAM and dual Olympic bronze medallist in race walking, Jemima Montag, as the other nominees.
It was one of the strongest fields of nominees for the highest of VIS awards in many years.
The evening also saw the VIS honour a number of its other athletes, among them Petricola and Yang who were named joint winners of the Para Athlete Award.
Brown won twice on the night, being the recipient of the Open Universities Australia Performance Lifestyle Award, which recognises excellence from an athlete in their studies, career ambitions, and/or work setting whilst pursuing their high-performance sporting career.
Among her sporting achievements, Brown completed an Arts degree and a Master of Marketing. She has now turned her attention to many ambassadorial commitments, building her own business and tackling her new role as the President of The Cyclists’ Alliance.
Fittingly, the Sarah Tait Spirit Award was taken out by Olympic rower Jean Mitchell who made her debut in Paris after a courageous battle with brain cancer, first being diagnosed at the age of 16 in 2016.
The 2XU Rising Star Award recognised another Olympic debutant in trampolinist Brock Batty, who made history as the youngest trampolinist from any country to compete in the Olympics. A determined individual, he is now planning to make future Olympic teams until 2040.
The Frank Pyke Achievement Award, presented to an athlete who enjoyed a successful sporting career, made a significant contribution to the VIS and their sport and who has built a successful post-athletic career, was awarded to former Australian Diamond and Melbourne Vixens netballer, Sharelle McMahon.
Congratulations to all VIS athletes for their achievements in 2024. The hard work, determination and passion have shone through in both sport and life.
Here’s to exciting new successes in the year ahead.
Image: Australian netball icon, Sharelle McMahon, addresses the room in gratitude after being named winner of the Frank Pyke Achievement Award.
