The 2019 Swimming Australia Awards ceremony took place last night in Sydney, where 19-year-old Ariarne Titmus took home the 2018 Short Course Swimmer of the Year honor, as well as the Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year award. Additionally, the Tasmanian teen, along with Marion’s Kyle Chalmers and Cotton Tree’s Lani Pallister, were recognized with Patron’s Awards.
At the 2018 FINA Short Course World Championships in Hangzhou, China, Titmus cracked the World Record in the women’s 400m freestyle en route to gold. She also snagged gold in the 200m freestyle, setting a new Commonwealth Record in the process.
Titmus took down American Olympic icon Katie Ledecky in the women’s 400m free at this summer’s long course World Championships. She also snagged 200m free silver, 800m free bronze, as well as helped bring the Aussie women’s gold medal-winning 4x200m freestyle relay to World Record-holder status in Gwangju, Korea.
Titmus’ St. Peters Western coach Dean Boxall took home both the Olympic Program Coach of the Year and Youth Coach of the Year awards yesterday, while Tiffany Thomas Kane and Lakeisha Patterson shared the Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year award.
The night also celebrated swimming’s retiring Dolphins, including Olympians James Magnussen, Josh Beaver and Jessica Ashwood, and Paralympian Madeleine Scott.
Full List of Award Winners:
2018 Short Course Swimmer of the Year – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western)
The AIS Discovery of the Year – Matthew Temple (Nunawading)
Youth Coach of the Year – Dean Boxall (St Peters Western)
Roger Smith Technical Official of the Year – Faye Lewis (NSW)
Local Legend of the Year – Matt Roberts (Nambucca Aquatic Swim Club)
Club of the Year – Ballarat Swimming Club (Victoria)
Hancock Prospecting Patron’s Awards – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), Kyle Chalmers (Marion) and Lani Pallister (Cotton Tree)
Open Water Program Coach of the Year – John ‘JR’ Rodgers (Noosa)
Paralympic Program Coach of the Year – Harley Connolly (Belgravia)
Hancock Prospecting Olympic Program Coach of the Year – Dean Boxall (St Peters Western)
Open Water Program Swimmer of the Year – Kareena Lee (Noosa)
Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year – Lakeisha Patterson (Belgravia) and Tiffany Thomas Kane (Monte)
Hancock Prospecting Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western)
Hancock Prospecting Swimmers’ Swimmer Award – Jesse Aungles (Marion)
Lifetime Contribution Award – Mrs Gina Rinehart
Congratulations Ariana and Dean. I hope you both have a kick ass year !!!!