Sport Climber and Archer among Tier 2 Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship recipients

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) has named the 10 recipients of Tier 2 scholarships for its 2024 Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Sport climbers and archers

Daredevils who conquer steep hills to adrenaline junkies navigating terrifying terrain are among the 10 young guns who will each receive a grant of $5,000 plus support from SAHOF and its esteemed member base over the next 16 months to help with their financial and other challenges.

The recipients include Sarah Nicki (freestyle BMX), Maya Stasiuk (sport climbing), Poppy Wilson (para swimming), Brock Batty (gymnastics – trampoline), Leon Sejranovic (taekwondo), Casey Isles (archery), Susannah Lutze (para rowing), Calab Law (athletics), Evie Saunders (sailing) and Chelsea Jones (life saving – royal).

Thrill-seeking schoolgirl Maya Stasiuk, 15, is taking Australia to new heights.  She started indoor climbing at the age of four after her parents decided that climbing up doorframes and six-metre trees was too dangerous. Now she's hoping to qualify for Paris 2024.

Stasiuk shared “This scholarship will provide me with support from a network of extraordinary Australian athletes. These are people who have been, or are still, on the same journey as myself.

“As a young athlete in an emerging sport, it is vital to have the support necessary to travel, compete and train so that I can stand amongst the best in the world, hoping one day to represent my country at the Olympics.”

On receiving the scholarship, archer Casey Isles also shared “It is really an honour and means the world to me to receive SAHOF Scholarship. The financial support will be great but more importantly it is massive for someone trying to work their way up in their sport to be represented/supported by an organisation such as SAHOF, as this will open other corridors and opportunities for collaboration, development and experience.”

The three-tiered program awards annual funding of $150,000 across 32 scholarships to support the next generation of Australia’s sporting stars on their journey to excellence and success in sport and in life. As well as funding via a sporting expenses grant, all three tiers include SAHOF encouragement and support via various initiatives throughout the program. All three tiers are also provided with merchandise from SAHOF’s partners BLACKROLL® and Grip Star Socks

The SAHOF Scholarship & Mentoring Program – the nation’s leading sports scholarship program – is backed by the Australian Sports Commission incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program Chair, Sue Stanley advised “I am so impressed by the breadth of talent we have amongst our junior athletes in this country. This year we received the most applications on record for our Scholarship and Mentoring Program, and I am excited to follow the journeys of the 32 young athletes who have been selected as they strive to achieve the highest level in their chosen sport.  

“With the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching, it will be a particularly exciting year ahead following the journey of our current and past scholarship holders who are working towards competing in these Games. It is a privilege to play a small part in assisting elite young Australian athletes by motivating and inspiring them to achieve their goals.”  

Last week the Sport Australia Hall of Fame unveiled the exceptional athletes awarded a $10,000 Tier 1 scholarship within its 2024 Scholarship & Mentoring program with four Olympic Gold medal champions, a surfing superstar and one of Australia’s most decorated Australian rules footballers set to mentor our next generation.

Quotes from each of the Tier 2 scholarship recipients and their national sporting organisations are available here.