Kitty Chiller's services to sport recognised in Australia Day Honours

Leading sporting administrator and Olympian, Kitty Chiller has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia - General Division - (AM) during Australia Day celebrations for her significant services to sport.

Chiller is being honoured for her work in modern pentathlon as both a competitor and senior administrator, plus a broad range of achievements across 35 years in domestic and international sport.

Chiller’s services to modern pentathlon as a competitor include being the first ever female to represent Australia in pentathlon at the Olympic Games (Sydney 2000); earning the world number one ranking and being a winner of seven World Cup medals.

As an administrator, Chiller has been the President of Modern Pentathlon Australia for the last 10 years alongside her Presidency of the sport’s Oceania Confederation while also serving as a current Executive Member of the sport’s international governing body.

Outside of her extensive modern pentathlon achievements and contributions, Chiller is the current Chief Executive of Gymnastics Australia, President of the Oceania Gymnastics Union and is an Executive Member of the International Gymnastics Federation.

Commenting on her receipt of the award, Chiller stated “I have an incredible passion for sport at all levels - participation to elite - and I have been extremely lucky to have been able to work in an area that I care about so much all my life.

“For me working in sport is a joy, so, to be recognised with this honour is both unexpected and humbling. I hope to be able to keep contributing to sport domestically and internationally for many more years to come.”

Chiller also has a long history of service to the Olympic movement with a list of senior roles as far back as Seoul 1988 where she was the Australian Olympic Team’s first ever Press Attaché. She also served as coach and manager of the Australian men’s pentathlon team in Atlanta, 1996; was on the pentathlon selection panel for Beijing 2008 and was Deputy Chef de Mission in London 2012.

More recently, she was Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team in Rio 2016, the first ever female to hold this prestigious position. She has also sat on the Australian Olympic Committee Executive Board since 2013 and late last year she was appointed to the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Entourage Commission.

Australian Olympic Committee President, John Coates stated “given the enormous breadth of commitment that Kitty has given Australia sport in so many capacities, this honour is richly deserved.

“An Olympian, a champion of her sport in this country, a tireless contributor to the AOC as a Chef de Mission, Deputy Chef and Team Manager. She is unique really.

“An Olympic coach, then a competitor and ultimately the Chef de Mission in Rio, a role that Kitty carried out with great distinction.

“Kitty continues to contribute to this day as an Executive Member of the AOC, the IOC’s Athlete’s Entourage Commission and of course guiding Gymnastics Australia as CEO.

“I can’t think of any other Australian who, like Kitty, has sat on the International Executives of two Olympic sports as she does with gymnastics and modern pentathlon.

“Modern pentathlon, the Olympic movement and Australian sport more broadly have been very lucky to benefit from Kitty’s drive and talents.”

Gymnastics Australia President, Sam McKay, praised Ms Chiller as a tireless campaigner for women in sport and recognised her extensive contribution to sport generally and to gymnastics in more recent times.

McKay added “the honour being bestowed upon Kitty is befitting of her contribution to sport at all levels, both in Australia and around the world.

“She is an outstanding ambassador for her country and being appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia is one of the finest honours that can be awarded to any Australian.

“On behalf of everyone at Gymnastics Australia, and within the broader gymnastics community I sincerely congratulate Kitty on this deserved honour.”