Finalists for the 2024 WA Sport Awards have been confirmed, with Olympic medallists, community clubs and a host of volunteers set to be honoured when awards are presented on Thursday 6 February 2025 at Optus Stadium.
With almost 200 nominations to be celebrated, SportWest CEO Troy Kirkham said the WA Sport Awards continue to illustrate the integral role of sport in the lives of West Australians.
“With the SportWest WA Sport Awards recognising so many unbelievable performances over the past year, we’re really excited to celebrate these achievements.
“It’s such a unique occasion on the WA sporting calendar to have community clubs, volunteers and administrators all honoured together in one special night alongside our high performing athletes, teams, coaches and officials. The community plays such a vital role in the pathway to greatness, and the WA Sport Awards are an occasion where everyone comes together to celebrate the contributions and achievements at every level of sport”, said Mr Kirkham.
Prominent performers are among the finalists, with a star-studded coaching list vying for the Coach of the Year title. Adam Voges again steered the WA Men’s Cricket team to Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup glory, while Ben Higson guided his stable of Olympic swimmers to bring home medals.
Voges and Higson are joined as Coach of the Year finalists by Australian PGA High Performance Coach of the Year Ritchie Smith. He mentored three of Australia’s four Australian Olympic Golf team members in Paris, and saw the likes of Hannah Green, MinWoo and Minjee Lee post world class performances in some of the biggest tournaments on the calendar.
What a year for our Junior Sport Stars who have shone on both the national and international stage. Whether it was Mahli Beardman and his performances as a fast bowler with the Australian Under 19’s cricket team, Taylah Preston and her rise up the World Tennis rankings, Iona Anderson’s swimming performances at the Olympic Games securing a Silver and Bronze medal, Spencer Harrison’s rise through the golfing ranks, Daniel Marsh and his incredible performances in squash or Mia Kretzler who has taken the Skateboard world by storm winning an X Games Gold Medal as a 9 year old. All these athletes are well deserving finalists as the Rebel WA Junior Sports Star, and are set to continue to make an impact in their respective sports over the coming years.
It was a strong year for Rugby Union in WA, with the state body among finalists for the Organisation of the Year, the Ellenbrook Vipers Rugby Union Club in the running for revolutioniseSPORT Community Club of the Year, and Kalamunda Rugby Club vying for the title of Healthway Healthy Club of the Year.
Finalists for the 2024 WA Sports Star Award will be announced in The West Australian throughout the week commencing 27 January 2025, ahead of the presentation of the Awards on 6 February.
The finalists for the other 11 categories are:
Rebel Junior Sports Star
Daniel Marsh (Squash), Iona Anderson (Swimming), Mahli Beardman (Cricket), Mia Kretzer (Skateboarding), Spencer Harrison (Golf), Taylah Preston (Tennis)
Team of the Year
Matt Ebden and John Peers (Tennis), WA Men’s Cricket Team (Cricket), 2024 Women’s Senior Lacrosse Team (Lacrosse), 2024 Men’s Senior Lacrosse Team (Lacrosse)
Coach of the Year
Adam Voges (Cricket), Ben Higson (Swimming), Ritchie Smith (Golf)
ActiveXchange Official of the Year
Cathy Hoare (Triathlon), Kellie Morley (Lacrosse), Ryan Arblaster (Swimming)
RSM Australia Community Sport Volunteer of the Year
John Pinneri (Australian Rules Football), Margie Oldfield (Cricket), Melanie Loreto (Football)
RevolutioniseSPORT Community Club of the Year – John Gilmour Medal
Ellenbrook Vipers Rugby Union Club (Rugby Union), West Coast Gymnasts (Gymnastics), Swan River Rowing Club (Rowing)
Healthway Healthy Club Award
Joondalup Giants Rugby League Club (Rugby League), Kalamunda Districts Rugby Union Club (Rugby Union), Pinjarra Football & Netball Club (AFL & Netball)
Community Sporting Event of the Year
Boekeman Machinery Bike it to Ballidu Gravel (Gravel Cycling), “Crayfish” DTL (Trap) Carnival (Clay Target Shooting), C-Wise Dwellingup 100 & Mighty Jarrah Trail Run (Mountain Biking and Trail Running), NRL WA Harmony Cup Rugby League 9s 2024 (Rugby League), 2024 Busselton Festival of Triathlon presented by Global Advanced Metals (Triathlon)
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Sports Administrator of the Year
Mark Lane (Surfing WA), Ryan Lenegan (Basketball WA), Shayley McGurk Davy (Hockey WA)
Hyundai Sport Initiative of the Year
LGBTQIA+ Allyship in Sport Program (UWA Sport), School Programs Free Squash Initiative (Squash WA), Sensory Convergence Container (WA All Abilities Football Association)
Organisation of the Year
Football West (Football), Rugby WA (Rugby Union), Squash WA (Squash)
The 2024 WA Sport Awards will be presented on Thursday, 6 February 2025 at Optus Stadium. Tickets are on sale now, purchase your ticket HERE. With so many talented finalists across a wide range of categories, the 2024 WA Sport Awards promises to be an unforgettable celebration of the state’s sporting achievements.
