Open champion Cameron Smith might be finished competing for 2022, but overnight he’s landed another trophy – anointed the Male Athlete of the Year at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Sport Performance Awards.
Smith, who won five tournaments this year, ranging in time from the PGA Tour’s year-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions in early January to the Fortinent Australian PGA Championship in late November, and ranging in prestige from the Chicago leg of the fledgling LIV Golf series to the grandest championship of them all: the 150th Open at St Andrews.
Smith moved as high as No.2 in the world ranking in the process, while in the history of Australian golf, few players have compiled such a complete season.
Yet the 29-year-old from Brisbane was recognised not just for his on-course accomplishments but for becoming one of the greatest role models and mentors within Australian golf.
Australian Sports Commission chief executive, Kieren Perkins OAM, said all of this year’s ASPAs awards carried the ‘Win Well’ influence, with nominees judged on more than sporting performance alone.
“Our judges also considered behaviours of sportsmanship, fair play, respect and integrity, broader contributions such as role modelling and leadership, and achievements beyond the sporting arena, like community involvement, academic and vocational achievements. It’s important to recognise and reward these qualities in our successful athletes,” Perkins said.
More than 350 guests attended the black-tie gala event to celebrate the incredible achievements of Australian athletes, coaches, leaders and volunteers from the past 12 months across Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.
2022 ASPAs Award winners:
- Female Athlete of the Year: Jessica Stenson, Athletics Australia
- Female Para-Athlete of the Year: Emily Petricola, AusCycling
- Male Athlete of the Year: Cam Smith, Golf Australia
- Male Para-Athlete of the Year: Ben Tudhope, Snow Australia
- Coach of the Year: Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia
- Emerging Athlete of the Year: Donnell Wallam, Netball Australia
- High Performance Program of the Year: Athletics Australia
- Award for Leadership: Petria Thomas, Commonwealth Games Australia
- Team of the Year: Women’s Rugby 7s, Rugby Australia
- Community Engagement Award: Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Athletics Australia
- Win Well Award: Victorian Institute of Sport
- Sport Volunteer of the Year Award: Nicole Williams, Cricket Australia
