Leary’s incredible 2024 brought two Paralympic gold medals, one silver, a world record, and a Paralympic record.

Just three years after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a cycling accident, Leary spearheaded Australia’s campaign at the pool at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

She set two world records on her way to claiming gold in the women’s 100m freestyle S9 – the first coming in the heats before winning her first individual gold medal with a world-best time of 59.53 seconds.

It was Leary’s second gold of the Paralympics after she inspired Australia to an incredible come-from-behind win in the 4x100m medley relay 34 points final, unfurling a blistering final leg to help set a new Paralympic record.

She also added a silver medal in the Mixed 4x100m freestyle relay 34 points with Chloe Osborn, Rowan Crothers, and Callum Simpson.

Leary’s journey from a near-death experience, learning to walk and talk again, to Paralympic glory has captured the hearts of Australians and people around the world and motivated many to embrace life and appreciate its fragility.

At just 23 years of age, the future is bright for this young star.

The 2023 Female Para-Athlete of the Year showed no signs of slowing down in 2024.

Parker’s crowning moment came in Paris when she rewrote the history books, becoming the first Australian to win Paralympic gold in two separate sports since Eric Russell in 1976.

Parker’s first gold came in the PTWC1 triathlon, bettering her Tokyo silver. Days later, she left the pack in her wake to win cycling’s H1-4 road race. Remarkably, just one day prior to her second gold, she won silver in the H1-3 individual time trial.

She also netted two gold medals and a bronze in the 2024 World Para Triathlon Racing series, along with six gold medals in the 2024 UCI Road World Cup, split evenly between the Adelaide and Belgium events.

Parker has few peers in both sports in which she competes. She is currently ranked second in the Para Triathlon world rankings and is the 2024 WH3 world number one rider in the 2024 UCI World Road rankings.

Parker is also a leader away from the racetrack.

A role model for all female athletes across Para Triathlon and Cycling classifications, she demonstrates leadership, is respectful and supportive to her teammates, and fosters collaborative relationships with performance support staff.

Qian Yang has long stood on top of the Para Table Tennis world and 2024 was no different.

The year was a gold rush for Yang as she finished on top of the podium twice at the Paris Paralympic Games. She won gold in the Class 10 Women’s Singles and partnered with Lina Lei to win the Women’s Doubles Class WD20 discipline.

Her winning ways were fine-tuned in the lead-up to the Games as she won the qualifying event, the 2023 ITTF Oceania Para Championships in the Solomon Islands, and the Class 10 Women’s Singles title at the 2024 ITTF Slovenia Para Open in Laško, Slovenia.

Yang maintained her number one world ranking for the entirety of 2024 and, to further illustrate her dominance, has won every international Para tournament she has competed in since the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Yang’s ability to stay calm and focused under the highest pressure, including when she is behind in matches, is the reason she continues to be so successful at benchmark events. It is this behaviour on the court that has her leading by example for other team members.

Yang always displays impeccable behaviour and respect on and off the court and is a great role model for teammates and for aspiring and elite athletes.

Low began 2024 with a remarkable win in the women’s para multi-class long jump at the Melbourne Invitational, leaping 5.15m (1.2) after an earlier world-record-level performance at an unsanctioned meet in Canberra.

This set the stage for an historic year as Low prepared for two global benchmark events; the World Para Championships in Kobe, Japan, and the Paralympics in Paris.

In Kobe, Low claimed victory with a 5.29m jump in her T61 classification, marking her third world title and a triumphant return after a maternity break.

She continued her stellar season by securing a spot on her fourth Paralympic Games team, her second with Australia.

At the Paralympics, Low delivered a masterclass, clinching her third consecutive Paralympic title with a world-record leap of 5.45m (-0.3). Opening with a powerful jump that extended her record by 12cm, she matched this mark again on her fifth attempt.

A role model in resilience and leadership, Low demonstrates that parenthood and elite sport can coexist. Alongside her husband and coach, Scott Reardon, she raises their two-year-old son, Matteo, balancing family with rigorous training and competition.

Low is also a member of the Australian Para Athletics Team Leadership Group, serves on the World Para Athletics Athletes Commission, and engages in advocacy work, championing public transport safety and supporting childhood foundations.

Despite her achievements, she is driven by an even greater goal – to break the six-metre barrier, a feat no female leg amputee has ever accomplished.

Titmus was already established as one of Australia’s greatest swimmers after her breakout Games in Tokyo and added to that legacy in Paris as she claimed back-to-back 400m gold, along with 200m silver, 800m silver and gold with the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

Her rivalry with legendary American Katie Ledecky would become a beacon of mutual respect, while her ability to deliver under pressure as the world watched on would serve as motivation for the green and gold contingent. Indeed, Titmus went into the Games with the mindset of a ‘need’ to get Team Australia off to a golden start – not herself, or the Dolphins, but Team Australia.

She also allowed fans and the media into the full range of Olympic emotions, from the highs of victory to the challenges of defeat. Through it all she was a model of humility, especially alongside teammate, training partner and rival Mollie O’Callaghan, who stormed to 200m freestyle gold.

Titmus stepped into the spotlight in 2023 as an advocate for women's health. The removal of a benign tumour in her right ovary put an issue facing all female athletes front and centre – the struggle of prioritising sporting career over fertility and family.

She now proactively promotes wellbeing and balance and has emerged as a leader within the Dolphins’ program through her actions and behaviours.

Olympic mogul skiing champion Anthony had the greatest season ever by an Australian winter sports athlete – and one of the greatest seasons in any winter sport – with a dominant run in the 2023/24 World Cup campaign.

Anthony sealed an incredible 14 World Cup moguls win. It was the most by an Australian in any discipline and the most ever by a mogul skier of any nation in a single year.

Over her impressive career, Anthony now has 22 World Cup victories, only two behind aerial skiing legend Jacqui Cooper. Anthony also tied aerial skiing pioneer and first skiing World Champion, Kirstie Marshall, for the most career World Cup podiums (41) by an Australian athlete.

Anthony was crowned Athlete of the Year at the 2024 Snow Australia Awards, the second time she has received the honour.

She is a senior athlete within the Australian Mogul Skiing team and sets the tone of every training session, embodying a true spirit of resilience as she continues to push the boundaries for females in the sport.

Fox cemented her status as the greatest ever Canoe Slalom paddler during the 2024 season.

She won five gold medals and two silver medals during the 2024 World Cup Season, before adding another two Olympic gold medals as she rose to the occasion at the Paris Games, making her the most successful individual medallist in Australian Olympic history.

After winning silver in London in 2012 and bronze in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo 2020, Fox was able to claim the elusive Women’s Kayak gold medal, then defended her Women’s Canoe gold with another virtuoso performance.

Fox is a tireless leader and advocate for sport. She is a member of the Athletes’ Commission of Paddle Australia, the Athletes’ Commission of the Australian Olympic Committee and in Paris was one of just four athletes worldwide to be elected the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee.

She was a flagbearer for Team Australia in Paris, managing significant media commitments ahead of the announcement and start of competition with her customary humility and enthusiasm, before delivering once more under extreme pressure.

Her influence on paddling in Australia extends far beyond her performances on the water. She is a recognised role model for the next generation of Australian athletes across all sports.

McKeown carved out her own place in history at La Defense Arena in Paris, becoming the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals after defending the 100m and 200m backstroke crowns she claimed in Tokyo.

The twin victories saw her become the first Olympic swimmer of any nation to defend the backstroke double, while she also added silver as part of the women’s 4x100m medley relay and bronze in the 200m IM.

She now has five Olympic gold medals to her name, including the women’s 4x100m medley relay from Tokyo.

Her powerhouse performance made her one of the standout athletes from the Paris pool and she was recognised for her achievements by being named as a flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony alongside sailing’s Matt Wearn.

It was the perfect reward for an athlete who is a respectful and grateful competitor, relentless in getting the best out of herself and an active leader within the Dolphins, who always supports others in achieving their goals.

Turner would overcome a run of injury and illness to deliver an unforgettable double gold at the Paris Paralympic Games, adding to the silver and gold he claimed in Tokyo.

After a challenging domestic season where he dealt with a run of injuries, glandular fever would strike as he prepared for the World Para Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May. Even so, Turner fought through to claim silver in the T35 400m in a time of 53.52s.

From there, the turnaround was remarkable. He rose to the occasion in Paris to defend his 400m crown in 51.54, smashing his own world record in the process. He added the 100m gold as well, equalling the Paralympic record of 11.85 and going one better than his Tokyo silver.

The triple Paralympian is part of the Para Team leadership group and takes an active interest in the preparation and achievement of his teammates, as well as mentoring and engaging with younger athletes.

Off the track, Turner lives his commitment to physical health and wellbeing and has completed a Personal Training qualification, with the end goal of using this as a vehicle to help others in the community reach their personal fitness goals.

Gallagher had La Defense Arena in Paris on its feet as he stormed to Australia’s first gold medal of the Paralympic Games with victory in the S10 50m freestyle.

It would be the highlight of a terrific Paralympic meet, with Gallagher also boarding the flight home with a S10 100m freestyle bronze and S10 100m backstroke bronze in his keeping.

The Games were especially fulfilling for Gallagher after he couldn’t take to the podium in Tokyo to receive his S10 400m freestyle bronze as he battled with a bout of crippling pancreatitis that would see him rushed to hospital.

Out of the water, he is an active member and contributor to Surf Life Saving Australia and after completing a Business/Marketing degree, is studying architecture at Griffith University.

His experiences in 2023 inspired him to make a concerted effort to improve his leadership skills. The result has seen him become an influential figure and leader to a group of male athletes, helping them make good performance and behavioural choices throughout the 2024 Paralympic campaign.

After two silver medals and a bronze in Tokyo, Hodge would get a deserved breakthrough at his third Paralympic Games as he took home SM9 200m IM gold in Paris in Paralympic record time (2:13.31).

He would finish as one of the stars of the meet, with gold as part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay (34 points), silver in the S9 100m butterfly and being a finalist in five events.

Hodge is recognised as a true leader within the four walls of the Australian Dolphins team, regularly showing the way through his actions and support for his peers and fellow athletes.

It’s not only the pool where he strives for excellence; Hodge is studying an Honours Degree in electrical engineering at the University of Western Sydney and is an undergraduate employee at global engineering firm WSP Australia.

After competing at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, there was talk of McEvoy hanging up his cap.

But after a complete overhaul of his training regime, McEvoy came back stronger than ever for Paris 2024 and became the first Australian man to swim at four Olympic Games.

The 30-year-old triumphed in the 50m freestyle, winning his first individual Olympic gold medal and swimming his way into the history books as the first Australian man to win a gold in the event.

He credits his success to new training techniques that involved less time banking kilometres in the pool and more time training on dry land.

It worked spectacularly. McEvoy won gold in the 50m freestyle at the 2023 World Championships in Japan, then brought his World Championships medal tally to nine with a silver and bronze in Doha in 2024.

To secure his spot in Paris, he won the 50m freestyle title at the Australian Championships in April 2024 and again at the Australian Olympic swimming trials in June.

With his tactics working so well, he's yet to rule out competing in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics as a 38-year-old.

Nicknamed Australia’s ‘skateboard king,’ Palmer successfully defended his Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games, winning the skateboarding men’s park competition with a score of 93.11.

The 21-year-old is the first back-to-back champion and the only champion in the event, which was introduced to the Olympic program in Tokyo 2020.

Coming into the Paris Games having won the Olympic Qualifier Series Final in Budapest, the goofy-footed park skateboarder secured the best qualifying score and delivered an outstanding opening run in the final that couldn’t be matched.

The result was even more impressive considering Palmer spent extensive months off the skate circuit across 2023 and 2024 after suffering a torn meniscus and fracture to his kneecap.

The San Diego-based skater returned to the Gold Coast to rehab with the Queensland Academy of Sport and committed to countless hours ensuring he was the most prepared he could be.

Palmer’s hard work and dedication paid off in spades, showcasing never-before-seen tricks such as the kickflip body varial 540, that continue to inspire the skateboarding community.

Wearn, a two-time Olympic champion and multiple World Championships medallist, has firmly established his legacy in Australian sporting history.

The 28-year-old West Australian defended his Olympic title in the laser class at the Paris 2024 Games and became the first back-to-back Olympic champion in the men’s dinghy event.

This wasn’t an easy feat, considering he was forced to race the men's dinghy final twice, which was initially abandoned close to the finish due to the wind. This pushed Wearn from the leading position to the back of the pack. With composure and perseverance, he fought hard to win the race and secure the gold.

The accomplishment marks the fourth consecutive time an Australian athlete has won the men's dinghy competition and was extra sweet for Wearn, having overcome long-COVID in 2022.

Despite missing most of the 2022 season, Wearn’s determination saw him recover in time to win the 2023 Olympic test event and the 2023 World Championships and secure both World and Olympic titles in 2024.

Off the water, Wearn backs up his performances with good sportsmanship and is a highly respected competitor not only on the Australian Sailing Team but also on the World Sailing circuit.

His leadership was further recognised when he was chosen as one of Australia’s flag bearers at the Olympic closing ceremony.

MacLaren made history for Rowing Australia as the first woman to coach an Olympic or Paralympic rowing medal when she guided the Australian PR3 Mixed Double of Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager to victory at the Paris Paralympic Games.

Her empathetic, athlete-centred approach is built on mutual respect and trust, valuing her athletes’ perspectives and unique needs.

A champion of innovation, she worked closely with sports scientists and bio-mechanists, introducing new, high-impact exercises tailored to enhance her crew’s capabilities. Her embrace of scientific insight and innovative training techniques has set a new standard within the coaching community, encouraging others to explore collaborative approaches to athlete development.

MacLaren’s holistic understanding of her crew’s needs — both in and out of the boat — ensured peak performance when it mattered most.

Her influence resonates beyond her immediate team. Through her strength, kindness and determination, she has inspired a new generation of coaches to seek excellence and is leaving a legacy within the Australian rowing community.

Boxall was the home coach to 10 of the 44 athletes on the Dolphins team at the Paris Olympic Games, with 80% of those returning home with a medal. His swimmers would win or contribute to four out of the seven gold medals and 12 of 18 medals in the pool.

His program at St Peters Western in Brisbane is stacked with Olympic-level talent and two of those would produce some of the biggest moments of Australia’s Games; Ariarne Titmus going back-to-back in the 400m freestyle and Mollie O’Callaghan taking gold in the 200m freestyle, with Titmus grabbing silver.

Boxall’s capability as a program lead has grown significantly over the past three years and his ability to use his support team to design and deliver world-class performance has been unmatched.

He often engages with international and cross-sport peers to understand what they are doing and how their tactics and strategies can make him more effective.

Boxall remains a master motivator who has made an artform out of getting the best out of his athletes both in training and on the grand stage.

Fox has cemented herself as a world-class coach in Canoe Slalom, having nurtured generations of paddlers from pathways to Olympic podiums over more than two decades as a coach with Paddle Australia.

During the international season, she coached Jess Fox to all her record-breaking moments, including when she became the first athlete to win three individual gold medals over a single weekend at an International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup.

She also coached Jess to her K1 and C1 gold medals at the Paris Olympic Games and has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee with a Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fox consistently engages in Australian Women in HP Coaching and Leadership forums and activities and is recognised both nationally and internationally.

She is regularly asked to share her experiences and outlook at conferences and remains a passionate advocate for the advancement of women in coaching.

McNiel led the mogul skiing pathway to its best season in history, supercharged by the unstoppable Jakara Anthony, and coached male athletes Matt Graham and Cooper Woods to World Cup medals.

McNiel and Jakara are now the greatest coaching-athlete partnership in Australian winter sports history and are the first Australian-raised athlete and coach combination to share gold medal success.

The 2024 season saw Jakara secure the crown as the greatest female mogul skier of all time with 14 victories, while Olympic medallist Graham delivered two World Cup podium results. Woods continued to improve on the World Cup stage, achieving a career-first podium with a second place in Waterville Valley, USA.

McNiel also coaches OWIA contracted athletes Jackson Harvey and contributes towards all NSWIS mogul skiing scholarship athletes. He works tirelessly on the mogul skiing pathway at all levels, and takes pride in mentoring future coaches.

He also works at the foundation, talent and emerging levels of the athlete pathway, is a member of the Snow Australia National Freestyle Committee, sits on selection panels and coach development committees and is a Snow Australia Emerging Talent Program advisor.

Aside from being one of Australia’s top skaters, Turner is well respected in the Australian skateboarding community for her commitment to making sure everyone feels included and introducing the sport to others.

Over the past year, she’s taken this initiative one step further by travelling to various parts of Australia to teach young people to skateboard as part of her work with an organisation called BIG hART/Totem Collective.

One of those trips saw her teach skateboarding to Indigenous communities in Karijini, Western Australia, providing skateboards and shoes to the youth. Impressively, she managed this while finishing Year 12 and travelling overseas to compete in the Olympic qualifiers, where she narrowly missed qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Turner took it upon herself to learn new languages to assist with communicating with other cultures and even skipped her high school graduation to prioritise her community work.

Her passion for skateboarding is evident not only in her own progress but in the way she is opening doors for the development of the sport in Australia by inspiring youth to get involved.

Ayers is not only making waves as a Paralympic rower but also as an ambassador for inclusion and diversity in sport.

As an AIS Thrive with Pride ambassador, Ayres actively promotes acceptance and representation within sports, advocating for LGBTQ+ visibility. She regularly participates in charitable initiatives and presents at events that celebrate diversity, such as the Pride in Sport Summit.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Ayres claimed Australia's first-ever par rowing gold medal in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls alongside crewmate Jed Altschwager. Behind the scenes, she helped celebrate the LGBTIQ+ community and create a welcoming and safe atmosphere as part of the Paris 2024 Pride House ambassador team.

As a member of the Rowing Athletes Commission, the Canberra local is also committed to advocating for athletes to enhance their experience and foster a positive sporting environment.

Her leadership role in the commission, along with her active presence on social media, inspires and encourages young athletes to embrace diversity and resilience, shaping the next generation’s view of inclusivity in sport.

Three-time Olympian Cowley utilises the platform he has through sport to be a positive influence and support community endeavours that align with his values.

He is a passionate advocate of climate change and sustainability and an active ambassador for Sports Environment Alliance, EcoAthletes and High Impact Athletes. His engagement in charity clean-ups and other environmental initiatives saw him win the 2024 BBC Green Sports Award Athlete of the Year award.

The 33-year-old is an alumni ambassador for the AIS Share a Yarn program and has been a working group member of the VIS First Nations Strategy Working group since 2022 to support First Nations Peoples Rights.

As the secretary of the Athletics Australia Athletes’ Advisory Committee, Cowley amplifies the athlete voice and provides feedback on relevant policies and procedures to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces for all athletes.

Cowley is also a 2024 AIS The Good Village Problem Solvers Ambassador and presenter and VIS ‘Be Fit Be Well’ program and Elite Athlete Speaker Program presenter.

Para Jackaroo Bonnell is a proud ambassador for the LGBTQI+ and disability communities.

She participates in the AIS Thrive with Pride program and has been instrumental in encouraging inclusivity in the bowls community by hosting para come-and-try days and one-on-one training sessions, as well as helping emerging para players get on the pathway to state selection.

Following the success of her inaugural Rainbow Versatility Pairs event on the Gold Coast last year, which saw players of varying ages, backgrounds and abilities participate, Bonnell collaborated with Bowls Western Australia to run the event across two states in 2024, with the aim of expanding even further in 2025.

This year, she also ran the inaugural Hawks Blue Ribbon open singles, a multi-disability event that exceeded capacity, as well as a para-inclusive pairs competition in June, matching an open player with a para player and attracted Bowls Australia ranking points.

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist’s passion for inclusivity is unwavering, demonstrated by her commitment to achieving a Guinness World Record for the longest indoor singles game against Ellen Falkner MBA in November last year.

The pair played a consecutive game of lawn bowls for 33 hours and 12 minutes to challenge societal perceptions of citizens with disabilities, and to prove that their will and determination can rival that of anyone else.

At 14 years of age, Trew claimed gold in the women’s park skateboarding event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning her the title of Australia's youngest-ever Olympic champion.

The Queensland teen put on a nail-biting performance during her Olympic debut, crashing on her first run, rising to third after her second attempt, then bringing it home with a top-scoring run of 93.18.

Trew took up skateboarding at the age of eight as an alternative to surfing and has been shaking up the sport ever since.

She catapulted to stardom in 2023 as the first woman to land a 720 in competition – a trick involving two full mid-air rotations made famous by skating legend Tony Hawk. In May 2024, she marked another historic milestone for female skateboarders by becoming the first to land the 900 in a half-pipe.

Leading up to the Games, Trew won gold at the 2024 X Games in California, topped the charts at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai and Budapest and was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year.

Now a role model for young skateboarders, Trew hopes her history-making streak will inspire even more girls to take up the sport.

Born with a genetic disorder called microdeletion syndrome, which causes a severe learning delay and problems with coordination, Simpson started swimming as a form of therapy to strengthen his body.

After winning multiple medals at the School Sport Australia Swimming Nationals in 2018, the young Queenslander set his sights on representing Australia as a Paralympic swimmer.

In 2023, he was named in the Para Flippers Development Squad and in 2024, was selected for the Madeira 2024 Para Swimming Open Championships.

He's now a two-time Paralympic gold medallist, having won the Men’s 100m Freestyle S8 and the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay (34 points) during his debut at the Paris Games.

Simpson is now looking towards LA 2028 and hopes to inspire others with a disability, reminding them that anything is possible if you don’t give up.

Morris secured Australia's first windsurfing medal in 32 years when he made his Olympic debut in Paris.

Competing in the new iQFOiL event, he won the 13-race qualifying series, advancing directly through to the final and finishing with a silver medal.

The thrilling event is a form of windsurfing on a board with a wing-like foil, instead of a fin, to lift it out of the water, allowing riders to glide over the water at speeds of up to 60 km/h. Morris describes it as a cross-country race on water, combining elements of his two sporting passions – windsurfing and rugby.

Prior to the Games, Morris proved to be a serious contender after a string of top-class results in 2023, then finishing fourth at the 2024 World Championships and second at the 2024 French Olympic Week Regatta in Hyeres.

In less than 12 months, Boddington went from being a national champion to a Paralympic gold medallist who broke the world record in the men's C4-5 1000m time trial at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

The 28-year-old also teamed up with Gordon Allan and Alastair Donohoe to win the bronze medal in the C1-5 Team Sprint.

In his early teens, the Sunshine Coast local faced two life-threatening accidents; at age 11, he suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car and at 15, he was involved in a motocross accident, resulting in an acquired brain injury.

His passion for cycling ignited during his university days when he would ride a bike to class and look forward to the final sprint at the end of the ride, prompting his decision to take up track cycling.

In December 2023, he had a breakout performance at the 2024 Para-cycling Track National Championships, winning four national titles. This earned him selection in the World Championships team, where a silver and a bronze medal put him in contention for Paris.

Athletics Australia produced stunning results at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic team collected a total of seven medals, including the first gold medal since 2012 as Nina Kennedy won the women’s pole vault. This is the best medal return achieved by Australia since the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

The Para Athletics team returned with 11 medals, led by dual gold medals to James Turner in the men’s T36 100m and 400m and Vanessa Low in the women’s T63 long jump.

Throughout the year Athletics Australia’s success is also highlighted by strong performances at World Athletics Series events and impressive medal hauls at the World Para Athletics Championships and World Athletics Under 20 Championships.

The Under 20 team achieved Australia’s best result at the Championships with 14 medals, proving that the spread of talent coming through the athletics pathway is at an all-time high.

The results reflect Athletics Australia’s commitment to enhancing its High Performance (HP) program through targeted initiatives, strategic investments, and a focus on holistic support for athletes, coaches and staff.

Some of the key initiatives include increased education across professional conduct and integrity, coach development and leadership summits, targeted resource allocation for athletes with podium potential, improved training environments for para and endurance athletes, better gender representation across teams and increased investment in equipment and technical support.

The Australian Swimming team, known as the Dolphins, won a collective 46 medals across the Paralympic and Olympic Games, accounting for 40 per cent of the Australian team's overall medal tally.

The Dolphins finished in second place behind the United States on the Olympic swimming medal tally and seventh place on the Paralympic medal tally.

The High Performance unit at Swimming Australia worked tirelessly to shift the culture of the team to be a values-based, purpose-driven squad driven by the mantra ‘We make each other better’.

They also implemented the use of data to augment and support decision-making, which revolutionised the way the team’s performance is planned and executed on stages like the Olympics and Paralympics.

In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Games, Swimming Australia’s High Performance Team also fostered environments across the country where athletes could thrive both inside and outside the pool.

They demonstrated the spirit of ‘winning well’ with a one-team approach built on a foundation of nurturing athletes not only to achieve podium finishes but also to embody the values of the organisation and inspire the nation to swim and live healthier lives through water.

With a holistic approach to athlete wellbeing and a long-term development focus, Swimming Australia aims to have athletes competing in the sport well beyond previous generations.

Paddle Australia had its most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in the history of the sport, winning four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Between Jess and Noemie Fox, Australia won every female Paris Olympic gold medal on offer in Canoe Slalom. All six men representing Australia in the Olympic Sprint Canoe team came home with a medal.

Of the 18 Australian athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, there were a total of 11 medallists.

Australia also won three medals at the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint Junior and U23 World Championships, as well as taking home a bronze at the 2024 ICF Canoe Slalom Junior and U23 World Championships.

With a vision to support Australia’s athletes to become the world’s best paddlers and people, the values of collaboration, transparency, inclusiveness and excellence underpin their HP program.

Athlete and staff wellbeing and a strength-based leadership philosophy were the focus of transformational change at Paddle Australia. A clear definition of “winning well” is understood by our community. The culture is one that empowers through coaching, challenging and creating together.

The Paddle Australia HP Program is a strong example of re-defining what success looks like in our HP Sport System.

Australia celebrated its most successful year in surfing history, headlined by Jack Robinson's impressive Olympic silver medal performance, with Tyler Wright and Ethan Ewing showcasing exceptional skills to reach the Paris quarterfinals.

Robinson’s career-defining achievements also included wins at the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach and Margaret River Pro on the WSL Championship Tour. Molly Picklum also claimed first place at the Hurley Pro.

Three Australian athletes made it to the final five of the 2024 WSL Finals, with Robinson placing fourth and Picklum and Ewing placing fifth.

Underscoring the depth and versatility of Australian surfing, the Junior Irukandji team shattered records at the 2024 ISA World Games, winning the overall gold and making history as the most-decorated team in ISA history.

Surfing Australia’s mission is to make our country the dominant surfing nation, guided by the values: limitless, authentic, elite and fun.

The program sets the standard by employing best practices, leveraging expertise and strengthening the national performance support network to deliver solutions for both athletes and coaches.

Surfing Australia’s HP Program continues to explore opportunities to use evidence-based research and innovation to give our athletes a significant competitive advantage.

The 2024 Service to Sport Award will be announced on Wednesday 4 December.

One of the most successful teams of the modern Olympics, the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay team won their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris blazed to glory with a new Olympic record time of 3:28.92 ahead of the United States and China.

O'Callaghan gained an early lead in her second 50m before Jack took over and pushed out the margin by nearly a body length. McKeon and Harris then maintained the winning break all the way home.

For McKeon, the win extended her Olympic gold medal haul to six, making her Australia's most-decorated Olympian.

Credit also goes to Olivia Wunsch and Bronte Campbell, who contributed to the heats and secured their place in the final.

With swimming typically an individual sport, Campbell demonstrated true sportsmanship and helped strengthen the team’s bond by gifting trinkets personalised for each team member during a training camp.

Campbell and McKeon, having competed in the event in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, also helped continue the team’s legacy and supportive nature, which has helped the team win at each of the Games since 2012.

The Aussie Stingers achieved their best Olympic result since Sydney 2000 at the Paris 2024  Olympic Games, winning silver medal.

Led by coach Bec Rippon, the squad came into the Games with a ‘do-or-die’ attitude which not only won over the hearts of many Australian spectators but also helped them beat some of their toughest rivals.

Prior to Paris, the Aussie Stingers hadn’t beaten USA, Netherlands or Hungary for more than two years but after an impressive effort, they were able to claim victory over all three.

It wasn’t an easy feat. The Stingers had to conquer three penalty shootouts in the process but with a barrage of impressive shots and the save of the century by dual Olympian Gabi Palm, they secured their place in the final.

Returning to Australia with silver medals and a strong community behind them, the team became the face of Water Polo Australia’s new participation initiative ‘National Water Polo Day’, aimed at making water polo accessible to as many people as possible

The initiative saw Stingers players spread across the country, engaging with kids at community clubs and playing a part in inspiring the next generation.

In a dramatic photo finish, the Australian men’s K4 500m crew secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind Germany.

Not letting the margin of defeat dampen their spirits, the team finished proud, having set a new Olympic best time during their semifinal and claiming Australia’s first medal in the event since London 2012.

For Riley Fitzsimmons, it was his first Olympic medal at his third Games, while Jackson Collins, Pierre van der Westhuyzen and Noah Havard all made their debut under Head Coach Jimmy Owens.

Having only come together last year, the team delivered promising performances in the lead up to the Games, including a tight fourth-place finish at the 2023 World Championships and silver at the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup 1 in Szeged, Hungary.

Outside of competitions, the men’s K4 team share a special connection with the MOB Academy on the Gold Coast – a senior secondary school that focuses on empowering young men with the skills, knowledge and confidence to be happy, healthy and successful in life after school.

The crew visited the MOB Academy prior to the Olympic Games and planned to reconnect with the students following their success with the aim of inspiring and building connections.

Faced with faster and more powerful opponents, and with the shadow of the troubled Tokyo campaign lingering, Australia’s Men’s Team Pursuit riders Conor Leahy, Sam Welsford, Oliver Bleddyn and Kelland O'Brien took the Paris Games by storm.

Setting a world record time in the quarter finals, the quartet fought off the world’s strongest track nations to win gold against Great Britain in the final. The win was a triumph of mental resilience and a powerful confluence between the athletes and their new high-tech bikes.

Following equipment malfunctions in Tokyo and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the team delivered the ultimate redemption story in Paris, claiming the Olympic title for the first time since 2004.

During the years of preparation for Paris, the athletes – especially those with Olympic experience – were generous in spending time with the wider endurance group of men and women. They were also active with junior riders at their clubs of origin, sharing knowledge and providing young athletes with an understanding of what is required to reach the sport’s pinnacle.

The Australian PR3 Mixed Double Sculls duo, featuring Jed Altschwager and Nikki Ayers, delivered an outstanding 2024 season including a history-making moment in Paris.

Together they won Australia's first-ever Paralympic gold medal in rowing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Their performance not only led to victory but also set a new Paralympic best time, underscoring their dominance in the PR3 category.

Demonstrating consistency and excellence, the duo remained undefeated throughout the season, showcasing their commitment to peak performance and solidifying their place in Australian rowing history.

Beyond their exceptional sportsmanship, Altschwager and Ayres are well respected by their competitors, coaches and officials and act as role models in the rowing community.

Their commitment to representing Australia with honour was evident in their interactions, supporting each other on and off the water, inspiring others within the sport and setting a standard for fair and respectful competition at the international level.

Athletics Australia’s High Performance Program promotes success achieved in a balanced, ethical and sustainable way, ensuring athletes are celebrated beyond their competitive outcomes.

A holistic approach to the wellbeing of athletes, coaches and staff is a key pillar of Athletics Australia’s High Performance Strategy. This has guided initiatives such as providing parental support in the form of financial, emotional and social support to help parents travelling with young children or mothers returning to competition post-pregnancy.

Athletics Australia ensures a wellbeing perspective is considered during athlete categorisation, selection and non-selection, and preparation for key competitions.

Having a wellbeing manager on the High Performance Leadership Team and an Athlete Advisory Committee providing feedback has resulted in a streamlined approach to athlete care and consideration and helps to balance performance goals with a culture of care, integrity, fair play and pride.

A collaboration with Paralympics Australia resulted in an improved performance environment for Wheelchair Track & Road (WT&R) athletes, while coach development and leadership programs saw the male-to-female ratio in coaching and staff leadership roles more than double since the Games in Rio 2016, reflecting an ongoing commitment to gender equity.

The Wellbeing Team also developed a series of videos to support Olympic and Paralympic debutants learn key tips and tricks from senior athletes to managing the environment at the Games. Feedback from athletes has been extremely positive, saying it has helped them navigate the challenges of competing away from Australia.

When considering what it takes to win, Bowls Australia has a ‘person first, player second’ philosophy embedded in their High Performance strategy.

Under this framework, Bowls Australia strives to provide clear support and guidelines to help staff and athletes lead balanced lives and foster a sense of belonging by celebrating individual and personal milestones as well as success on the greens.

Some of the initiatives that support this approach include a parenting policy to support athletes travelling with young children, a carers policy that fosters an inclusive environment for athletes with a disability, formalised support for athletes transitioning in or out of the HP program and performance and professional development opportunities for both athletes and staff.

To encourage a culture of shared values from grassroots to high performance, Bowls Australia worked with top-tier Jackaroos as well as emerging athletes and staff to develop the Jackaroos Playbook. The playbook outlines agreed values and behaviours that combine challenge and care to support athletes and staff to perform at their best.

Similarly, Bowls Australia’s Athlete Leadership Group consists of both Open squad members and our Para squad members, further highlighting the fully integrated and inclusive program that Bowls is proud to lead. Athlete leaders meet on a regular basis and have significant input in new processes around athlete transitions, disciplinary processes and valued behaviours.

Both Open and Para Jackaroos also purposefully contribute to building a legacy where Bowls Australia continues to be a leader in inclusion and diversity.

CombatAUS is committed to winning well by implementing values and practices that prioritise honourable success, integrity and well-being alongside performance outcomes.

To support this approach CombatAus has set a clear vision and values that foster an environment where athletes and staff ‘work together, walk together, aspire together and achieve together’.

They provide regular educational and professional development opportunities to support athlete and staff personal growth, encourage wellbeing and mental health practices during camps and workshops and share stories from role models in the combat community who make decisions aligned to CombatAUS values, as well as their own personal needs.

Other initiatives include post-competition debriefs, open communication to monitor mindset and behaviour, the introduction of the ‘CombatAUS Spirit award’ to recognise positive actions and support participation in community service programs that highlight the importance of giving back and supporting others.

CombatAus also have Athlete Advisory Committee to unite athletes across combat sports (boxing, judo, taekwondo and wrestling) to share insights and continuously improve the high performance journey.

Fostering a sense of belonging is a key priority for CombatAUS, who have implemented practices that support and empower people to be proud of their cultures and beliefs and not be afraid to be vulnerable when it comes to seeking support.

Gymnastics Australia’s high performance (HP) program fosters an environment that values both success and athlete wellbeing equally.

In collaboration with HP coaches, the National Institute Network and HP staff, Gymnastics Australia (GA) has developed an athlete-centred, holistic approach that prioritises not only results but also the development of ethical, responsible athletes who are well-rounded individuals.

A key objective of GA's 2032 High Performance Plan is to "positively impact athletes in developing capabilities in sport and in life, enabling them to achieve their objectives, celebrate the success of others, and look back positively on their journey in the sport".

Central to this is the implementation of individual learning and performance plans, which cover not only technical, tactical and physical development, but also career, education and personal growth to ensure athletes are equipped for life beyond their sporting careers.

GA has also cultivated camp environments that prioritise integrity, teamwork and respect, with athlete input embedded in planning processes. GA view their high performance athletes as more than just gymnasts; they are ambassadors for a culture that celebrates success achieved through integrity and balance.

To support pathway athletes, GA created a Performance Wellbeing, Learning & Development Framework to guide athletes, families and coaches through their entry into HP sport which focuses on aspects of wellbeing along with career, education, integrity, media and personal development.

They also developed a program tailored to enhance athlete leadership skills and another program aimed at supporting senior athletes build confidence in storytelling, media engagement and audience connection.

By embedding the Win Well principles into daily operations, GA ensures that these values are consistently reflected in every aspect of its programs.

Titmus’s exceptional swim in the 400m freestyle to defend her title was one of the outstanding moments of the Paris Olympics.

The stunning victory over Canada’s Summer McIntosh and Team USA’s Katie Ledecky cemented her position as the undisputed champion of women’s middle distance swimming.

Her Paris campaign also saw her take home gold as the anchor leg for the women's 4x200m freestyle relay team and silver in the 200m freestyle and 800m freestyle.

Titmus went into the summer Games with a new world record, finishing the 200m freestyle final at the Australian Olympic trials in 1:52.23.

She has emerged as a leader within the Dolphins program through her actions and behaviours within the team and on the world stage.

She has also stepped up as an advocate for women’s health after having a benign tumour in her right ovary removed. It placed a spotlight on the struggle of balancing a sporting career with fertility and family.

She shared her story to help raise awareness and to encourage athletes to prioritise their health, while she proactively promotes wellbeing and balance.

Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager made history at the Paris Paralympics to become the first Aussie Para-rowers to win gold and the first athletes ever to win the new PR3 mixed doubles.

Coached by Christine MacLaren, the duo also set a world record in the heats, beating their own previous world-leading time set earlier in the year.

They came into the Paralympics as World Champions, an incredible achievement given they had only been partnered together for just over a year.

Ayers works hard to ensure the inclusion of all people in sporting environments. Part of the AIS Thrive with Pride program, Ayers volunteered as an ambassador at Pride House during the Paralympics.  She is a midwife and despite a huge workload, is always positive and encouraging of others.

Altschwager is a prolific public speaker who enjoys working with school-aged children to help them understand disability, inclusion and fair play.  A leader within the rowing South Australian sporting community, he volunteers to support para-sport talent ID and come-and-try programs.  In his new role as SASI Para-Sport Transition Coach, he will engage new para-athletes across a range of sports.

By any measure, Brown had an extraordinary 2024. Powering into the final phase of her illustrious career, Brown won three gold medals in as many events; the Paris Olympics Individual Time Trial, the Road World Championships Individual Time Trial and the Road World Championships Mixed Team Relay.

She also took first place in major tournaments; the Leige-Baston-Leige Femmes (Classic), the Bretagne Ladies Tour and the AusCycling Road National Championships – Individual Time Trial event.

All up, Brown won six out of the nine Time Trial events she entered and added a podium in a seventh. Always a leader, Brown’s Olympic gold was Australia’s first-ever in a Games Time Trial and the nation’s first Road Cycling Gold medal since Athens 2004.

Brown graduated from Melbourne University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics and Languages. She also completed a Diploma in Italian Language. She added an Honours year to her to her BA in 2015, and later went on to complete a Masters of Marketing at Griffith University.

She was the recipient of an Amy Gillet Scholarship and ultimately became an Ambassador for the Foundation. More recently, she was elected President of The Cyclist's Alliance which campaigns for the rights of female professional cyclists.

McKeown was recognised as the flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony in Paris for not only her efforts in the pool but her promotion of authenticity, excellence and support of her fellow teammates.

She became only the second female swimmer in Olympic history to complete a 'double-double' and the first female swimmer to defend 100m and 200m backstroke titles. McKewon was the first Australian Olympian in any sport to win four individual gold medals.

There is no harder trainer than McKeown and she is tireless in getting the best out of herself At the same time, she is passionate about supporting others in the Dolphins’ team and creating an environment to achieve the best.

Most recently, her decision to step down from competing in the World Cup Series and publicly acknowledging it was due to mental health reasons makes her a role model for all athletes to know it really is OK to ask for help.

As someone that prides herself on her work ethic and ability to embrace and endure pain, this is perhaps the most courageous decision of her already decorated career.

The 2023 Female Para-Athlete of the Year showed no signs of slowing down in 2024.

Parker’s crowning moment came in Paris when she rewrote the history books, becoming the first Australian to win Paralympic gold in two separate sports since Eric Russell in 1976.

Parker’s first gold came in the PTWC1 triathlon, bettering her Tokyo silver. Days later, she left the pack in her wake to win cycling’s H1-4 road race. Remarkably, just one day prior to her second gold, she won silver in the H1-3 individual time trial.

She also netted two gold medals and a bronze in the 2024 World Para Triathlon Racing series, along with six gold medals in the 2024 UCI Road World Cup, split evenly between the Adelaide and Belgium events.

Parker has few peers in both sports in which she competes. She is currently ranked second in the Para Triathlon world rankings and is the 2024 WH3 world number one rider in the 2024 UCI World Road rankings.

Parker is also a leader away from the racetrack.

A role model for all female athletes across Para Triathlon and Cycling classifications, she demonstrates leadership, is respectful and supportive to her teammates, and fosters collaborative relationships with performance support staff.

As a founding member of Hobart Out Tennis Club (HOTC), Oliver-Ewen’s impact on the LGBTQIA+ and broader tennis community in Tasmania can’t be understated.

His passion to use tennis as a vehicle to create an inclusive space for a minority community, which often struggles in sporting environments, has not only helped build Tasmania’s largest LGBTQIA+ sporting club but helped the broader Tasmanian tennis community become more accepting and inclusive.

He is known for uniting players of different backgrounds and creating a common ground. He’s been embraced by the LGBTQIA+ community for helping connect them not only with Tasmanian support services but showing them that tennis and sport can embrace them.

Oliver-Ewen’s efforts have been amplified through his engagement with local media and businesses, working with Tennis Tasmania/Australia and club presidents to help bridge differences and create a shared understanding.

He often assists other clubs in Tasmania who reach out seeking advice on how they can make their club a more welcoming, safe and inclusive place for people to attend.

Since joining the club, he has filled several leadership roles such as secretary, media lead and tournament director.

Mulvogue has been a dedicated volunteer of the Collingwood Park Power AFC in Queensland since 2017.

According to their members, Mulvogue ‘keeps the club running’ and makes sure all kids can get out and play footy. She supports the club as a coach, Auskick coordinator, canteen worker, accredited ground marshal, umpire, team runner, social media manager and club fundraiser. She’s often the first one to arrive and the last to leave.

Mulvogue has helped grow AFL numbers in a rugby league heartland tenfold, particularly in women and girl’s footy where numbers have doubled and new teams have emerged.

She also facilitated the club’s first Under 13 team in 25 years. Furthermore, she’s passionate about ensuring children with disabilities have opportunities to participate, help her with coaching and run drills.

Mulvogue also coordinates the Power's annual Indigenous Round, which is a chance to celebrate the clubs’ heritage and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. She even helps coach the opposition teams and encourages players to demonstrate respect and sportsmanship, which is often praised by parents on both sides.

Behind the scenes, Mulvogue funds club fees and carnival costs for kids who can’t afford to pay out of her own pocket.

Conran is known as the ‘go to person’ at the Centenary Archers Club in Queensland. According to the club’s members ‘his enthusiasm for the archery community is infectious and his dedication to taking care of all the administration for the club is unparalleled’.

While his title is Club Secretary, Conran wears many hats and is heavily involved in all aspects of the club from management through to working bees. There’s no job too big or small for him – such as fixing the drainage problems at the club.

Conran is often down at the club working, fixing or maintaining a wide array of equipment, including bows and arrows for beginners and a whole host of other skilled jobs while no one else is around. He also does a huge amount of IT admin behind the scenes.

He has also made a strong impact on the wider community through teaching archery to members of the public at their ‘Come and Try’ sessions, an essential connection point to encourage people to take up the sport.

During Conran three years in the role, membership has increased and so too has the club morale. He has also driven a ‘Talent Encouragement Fund’ which supported young archers in attending competitions and ensuring there is a pathway for future generations.

Keillor has made a significant impact to the Shepparton Canoe Club in Victoria and according to its members, ‘embodies the true spirit of volunteerism’,

She has helped cultivate a culture of inclusivity within the paddling community. Over the past 12 months she’s grown their All Abilities Paddling Program from two participants to nine. This has helped not only enhance the visibility of Para-athletes in paddling, but also created a pathway for athletes to take part in Paddle Victoria’s Marathon events, where some have gone on to win Victorian Championships titles.

Keillor also customises training plans and adapts equipment based on individual needs, such as helping an athlete with intellectual disabilities and balance challenges progress from a sit-on-top kayak to a TK1.

Beyond her role in the All Abilities Paddling Program, she also serves as the club secretary, contributing to operations by supporting working bees, the Annual River Connect Paddle, delivery of Paddle Victoria’s Paddle Hub programs and welcoming newcomers with "come and try" sessions. She freely gives her time and resources, often transporting athletes and equipment to events at her own expense, ensuring athletes have the opportunity to participate fully.

Keillor’s impact also extends to the broader community. She initiated the club’s annual "Light Up the Lake" event which brings the Shepparton community together and offers those living with disability a fun and inclusive experience with free paddling sessions on Lake Victoria.