The nominees for the prestigious Award of Excellence (AOE) include athletes who have achieved outstanding sporting results at major events while also contributing to the development or promotion of their sport.
The contenders this year for the coveted award would each bring a historic result to the VIS hall of fame.
Australia’s most decorated snowboarder, Scotty James, has the chance to become a three-time VIS Award of Excellence winner, having won the award back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.
James has continued to push the boundaries of whats possible on the halfpipe. With the clock ticking to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, hes claimed his fourth world championship title, seventh X Games gold medal and finished top of the podium at the 2025 LAAX World Cup.
The VIS cycling program is proving itself a leader in Australian sport. After Olympic and World Champion cyclist Grace Brown OAM took out the Award of Excellence honours last year, our next finalists for 2025 are both Para-cycling World Champions.
Paris Paralympic bronze medallist Alana Forster, continued her dominance on the international stage in 2025, adding more rainbow jerseys to her collection when she was crowned a double World Champion in the C5 Individual Time Trial and Road Race at the UCI Para Road World Championships in Belgium.
Once an elite able-bodied racer, she fought her way through months of rehabilitation after a devastating car accident in 2022. Demonstrating extraordinary courage and determination, she returned to the sport she loves as a Para-cyclist.
Emily Petricola OAM stands among the worlds cycling greats. A dual Paralympic gold medallist, world record holder and at the time of nomination a ten-time track World Champion and dual road World Champion. One of those coming at the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in the C3 Road Time Trial.
She now adds three more track titles to her tally in the C3 category at the recent UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships.
Forster and Petricola have also been named finalists for the Para Athlete Award.
The 2025 Award of Excellence finalists are:
- Scotty James (Snowboarding)
- Alana Forster (Para-cycling)
- Emily Petricola OAM (Para-cycling)
The Award of Excellence honour roll includes some of Australia’s greatest high-performance athletes, such as Cathy Freeman OAM, Dylan Alcott AO, Mack Horton OAM and 2024 recipient, Grace Brown OAM.
“Among a highly competitive and talented field of nominees, our award finalists truly embody the VIS vision in which VIS athletes are thriving and succeeding on the big stage and inspiring Victorians,” said VIS CEO, Nicole Livingstone AO.
“Their dedication to sport is reflected in their consistent ability to perform as world-leaders, elevating Australian sport and making our state proud”.
The annual VIS Award of Excellence will take place at the Melbourne Recital Centre on November 11, honouring the national and international accomplishments of VIS athletes and the way they strive to win well in both sport and in life.
This year’s event will be hosted by Australian diver, VIS scholarship athlete and journalist, Laura Hingston.
While the Award of Excellence stands as the pinnacle of VIS recognition, the event also sees the presentation of The Carbine Club Rising Star Award, 2XU Performance Lifestyle Award, Para Athlete Award, Sarah Tait Spirit Award, and the Frank Pyke Achievement Award.
This year’s nominees exemplify excellence, resilience, and leadership in their sport and in life. The awards ceremony promises to celebrate the dedication and inspiration that these athletes bring to the VIS and Victorian community.
The finalists for these awards are:
The Carbine Club Rising Star Award
- Lily Graham (Netball)
- Annabelle Colman (Para-athletics)
- Dayna Crees (Para-athletics)
- Josh Jolly (Cycling BMX)
2XU Performance Lifestyle Award
- Hannah MacDougall (Para-triathlon)
- Dean Hewitt (Curling)
- Rhydian Cowley (Athletics Race Walking)
Para Athlete Award
- Tahlia Clayton-Goodie (Para-cycling)
- Emily Petricola OAM (Para-cycling)
- Alana Forster (Para-cycling)
- Ahmed Kelly (Para-swimming)
Sarah Tait Spirit Award
- Sara Blicavs (Basketball)
- Sarah Gigante (Cycling)
- Sarah Larcombe (Para-climbing)
Follow the events proceedings via the VIS social media (@vicinstsport) as the award winners and celebrations are shared throughout the evening.
