Broadcast journalist and author, Sam Lane, will host the event at Zinc at Federation Square.
The coveted Award of Excellence will be presented to an athlete who has achieved outstanding results during the year while adopting a planned approach to sporting excellence and contributing to the promotion and development of their sport.
In an Olympic and Paralympic year, there is no shortage of incredible feats with all four ‘AOE’ nominees being Paris medallists.
Grace Brown wrapped up her athlete career in style, winning gold in Paris in the Women’s Individual Time Trial (ITT) and backed it up two months later with two world championship titles at the UCI World Championships in Switzerland.
She polished off the winning streak in her last professional race, the Chrono de Nations, while wearing the iconic rainbow jersey of world champion. She is now busy tackling her new role as the President of The Cyclists’ Alliance.
Para cyclist, Emily Petricola OAM, smashed her own World Record en route to defending her Tokyo title in the C4 3000m Individual Pursuit in Paris. It was an emotional victory for Petricola who had been battling severe multiple sclerosis flare-ups that caused unbearable spasms in the eight weeks leading up to the Games.
She is the benchmark for C4 women globally and is living out the legacy she wishes to create, making a difference for people living with MS.
On her way to be dubbed one of the greatest Para table tennis players of all time, Qian Yang OAM claimed double success in Paris with gold in the WS10 Singles and Doubles with teammate and good friend Lina Lei.
The 28-year-old has medalled at four consecutive Paralympic Games and was recently presented with an Order of Australia Medal for winning gold in Tokyo. Away from the table she is coaching the next generation of talent at the Scorpio Table Tennis Academy.
And finally, race walker Jemima Montag etched her name in the history books in Paris as the first Australian woman in over 50 years to win two athletics medals at a single Olympic Games. Montag clinched third place in both the Women’s 20km Race Walk and the brand-new Mixed Marathon Relay event with teammate Rhydian Cowley.
As an International Olympic Committee Young Leader, Montag drives her program ‘Play On’ which focuses on how females can overcome their unique barriers to playing sport and ultimately stay in sport for longer, encouraging young people to move, eat well and connect.
The presentation of the Para Athlete Award, Sarah Tait Spirit Award, 2XU Rising Star Award, Open Universities Australia Performance Lifestyle Award, Coach Awards and the Frank Pyke Achievement award – presented to an athlete alumnus, will also be celebrated.
View the full list of award finalists here.
Follow the action via the VIS social media accounts (@Victorian Institute of Sport / @VicInstSport) and hashtag #VISawards.
