Peter Campbell, the long serving board chairperson of South West Sydney Academy of Sport said winning the athlete of the year award was becoming harder than gaining national selection.
Speaking at the academy’s 25th anniversary dinner last weekend, Mr Campbell said that having so many athletes representing at the state, national and international level made choosing a winner “an exceedingly difficult decision’’.
He told the packed audience that the judging panel looked for those special, talented athletes who also possess the defining personal qualities of a positive attitude, total commitment to task, leadership, respect and responsibility, and a commitment to community.
Mr Campbell announced that in the past 12 months, not one but two academy athletes had done enough to share this ultimate honour.
They were – drum roll, please – Camden triathlete Ryan Carter and Wollondilly decathlon champion Thomas Noakes.
Mr Campbell said that the pair were selected joint recipients of the awards from a strong field featuring a worthy athlete from each of the academy’s 12 sport programs.
But none shone more brightly than the dual winners.
He pointed out that both Carter and Noakes had successfully represented Australia at overseas international events in the preceding few months.
A sell-out crowd of more than 450 guests attended the academy’s 25th anniversary dinner.
They included some of Australia’s finest athletes, sports supremos, politicians and local government administrators.
Mr Campbell also congratulated the 250 plus athletes and over 60 volunteer coaching and support staff members, plus the hundreds of supportive parents associated with the academy.
Last night at Campbelltown Council one of the councillors who attended the evening, Cr Karen Hunt, said the academy, which had a humble beginning, was becoming more and more successful.
“There’s no doubt more and more of its athletes will be heading to Olympic Games in the next few years,’’ Cr Hunt said.
