The ‘I Support Women in Sport’ Awards is considered by many to be the premier sports honour for women in Australia and swimmers are up for awards in three categories at tonight’s gala.
World, Commonwealth and Pan Pacific champion Cate Campbell is contending for the ‘Most Outstanding Athlete’. She will be competing against snowboarder Torah Bright, mountain biker Caroline Buchanan, summer and winter paralympian Jessica Gallagher, gymnast Lauren Mitchell and track star Sally Pearson.
The Commonwealth gold medal and world record setting 4 x 100 freestyle relay team made up of Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Melanie Schlanger is up for the Moment of the Year (the all-time best female sporting moment that sent the nation into a frenzy and Twitter into a meltdown). They will be up against wheelchair sprint star Angela Ballard, Diamonds netball team, Hockeyroos field hockey team and shooter Laetisha Scanlan.
Emma McKeon has been nominated for the One to Watch Award (You’ll be hearing a whole lot more about this star on the rise). The other nominees include cricket player Meg Lanning, golfer Minjee Lee, boxer Shelley Watts and water polo player Rowena Webster.
The awards were created in 2011 by Women’s Health magazine.
“It has been a phenomenal year for our female sporting stars. The recent Commonwealth Games … showcased Australia’s incredible depth of talent across all disciplines,” said Felicity Harley, the magazine’s editor.
“I look forward to toasting the many inspirational and courageous successes of our Australian sportswomen.”