Sport NSW announces 2023 Sports Awards finalists

Finalists in each of the 2023 rebel NSW Sports Awards categories have been announced by Sport NSW.

The 2023 NSW Sports Awards are NSW’s highest sports honours and the 12 category winners will be revealed at the prestigious rebel NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour on Monday 20th November.

The Ceremony will be attended by the elite of NSW sport and the Awards celebrate the achievements of NSW athletes, coaches, administrators, official, and organisations.

The Awards ceremony will also unveil John Forbes (yachting), Mathew Helm (diving), Heather Garriock (football), Brett Lee (cricket) and David Palmer (squash), as the newest inductees into the NSW Hall of Champions while Layne Beachley (surfing) will be elevated to Legend status.

Among the list of category finalists are:

• Three-time Athlete of the Year with a Disability winner, para-triathlete Lauren Parker, a finalist for Athlete of the Year with a Disability
• 2021 Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability winner, para-swimmer Timothy Hodge, a finalist for Athlete of the Year with a Disability
• 2017 Athlete of the Year with a Disability, para-cyclist Amanda Reid, a finalist for Athlete of the Year with a Disability 
• Four-time Athlete of the Year winner, paddler Jessica Fox, a finalist for Athlete of the Year
• Fox’s mother and coach, Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, a Coach of the Year finalist
• 2022 Team of the Year, Penrith Panthers National Rugby League Club, a finalist for Team of the Year
• 2017 Master Athlete of the Year, swimmer Tony Goodwin, a finalist for Masters Athlete of the Year

Sport NSW Chief Executive, Stuart Hodge congratulated all 61 finalists across the 12 Award categories saying they performed outstandingly and made an immense contribution to their sport.

Hodge (pictured below) advised “these worthy finalists in each category have excelled at the highest levels, and we congratulate them on their magnificent achievements over the past 12 months.

“These finalists join a magnificent assembly of previous athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, and organisations who have been considered as finalists in the most prestigious sports Awards NSW offers.

“Sport in NSW is blessed to produce so many exceptional athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials. This is a credit to their brilliant individual efforts, but also to the teams of dedicated and unselfish support staff, family, and friends who, behind the scenes, made such an immense contribution.

“Sport is the universal language which binds communities together across NSW. Sport promotes healthy living and drives societal change, and our finalists are wonderful examples of inspiration for athletes, coaches and administrators of all ages and abilities.”

2023 NSW Sports Awards Finalists

Athlete of the Year Sport
Jack Besgrove, softball - Orange
Caitlin Foord, football - Shellharbour
Jessica Fox OAM, paddle - Leonay
Paige Hadley, netball - Sydney Olympic Park
Rhiannan Iffland, diving - Tenambit

Athlete of the Year with a Disability 
Ryley Batt OAM, wheelchair rugby - King Creek
Tim Hodge, para swimming - Kings Langley
Dylan Littlehales, para paddle - Wamberal
Daniel Michel Boccia Cronulla
Lauren Parker Para Triathlon Chisholm
Amanda Reid Para Cycling Sydney

Young Athlete of the Year 
Delta Amidzovski, athletics - Homebush
Jarvis Earle, surfing - Cronulla
Errol Gulden, AFL - Maroubra
Conner Maggs, surf lifesaving - Cromer
Olivia Wunsch, swimming - Ryde

Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability 
Sara Bergen, surf lifesaving - Coffs Harbour SLSC
Arato Katsuda-Green, tennis - Cremorne
Mali Lovell, athletics - Homebush
Amelia Moore, swimming - Coffs Harbour Swim Club 
Harrison Nichols, rowing - Ashtonfield
Mackenzie Wills, netball - Branxton

Masters Athlete of the Year 
Nathan Foster, surf lifesaving - Bulli
Tony Goodwin swimming - Bowral
John Horsburgh, cycling - Sydney
Jenny Whiteley, Royal Life Saving - West Pennant Hills
Min Yi Du, fencing - Mascot

Team of the Year 
Nicole Duncan and Keira Will, cycling - Central Coast/Lidcombe
NSW Pride Womens Team, hockey - Sydney Olympic Park
Penrith Panthers, rugby league - Penrith
Sydney Kings, basketball - Sydney
Sydney FC Women, football - Sydney

Team of the Year with a Disability 
2023 Virtus Global Games Australian Equestrian Team - Equestrian Scone/Mitchells Island
Cricket NSW Blind and Low Vision Cricket Team, Blind Cricket - Coffs Harbour
Daniel Michel/Ashlee Maddern (Ramp operator)
Jamieson Leeson/Amanda Leeson (Ramp operator) Boccia Cronulla/Homebush
NSW Cerebral Palsy Men's Football team, Cerebral Palsy Football - Glenwood
NSW Gladiators Wheelchair Rugby Putney

Organisation of the Year
Basketball NSW
Football NSW
Gymnastics NSW
NSW Goalball
Volleyball NSW

Event of the Year 
FIBA Women's Asia Cup, basketball 
GIO Oz Day 10k 2023, Wheelchair Road Racing 
SLSNSW State Championships, Surf Life Saving NSW
World Athletics Cross Country Championships 
World Pride Events 

Coach of the Year 
Briony Akle, netball - Castle Hill
Matthew Horsnell, athletics - Lisarow
Dzmitry (Dima) Kachan Gymnastics Londonderry
Adam Kingsley AFL Sydney Olympic Park
Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi Paddle Leonay

Official of the Year 
Jemma Cook, netball - Collaroy Plateau
Roz Grey OAM, Royal Life Saving - Heathcote
Pam Hockings, bowls - Engadine
Angus McKenzie-Wills, AFL - Fairlight
Peter Tomlinson, cycling - Southern Highlands

Administrator of the Year 
Andrew Bowden, Royal Life Saving NSW - Engadine
Lorenzo Crepaldi, Football NSW - Glenwood
Annelise Rosnell, Northern NSW Football - Newcastle
Sandra Slattery Surf Life Saving /Tacking Point SLSC Port Macquarie

Tickets to the rebel Champions of Sport Ceremony are available to the public by visiting www.sportnsw.com.au