WAIS athletes nominated for Paralympics Australia Awards

Swimmer Ben Popham and athletics graduate Madison de Rozario have been nominated for awards at the Paralympics Australia Awards for their Tokyo Paralympic performances.

Tokyo gold medallist de Rozario is among four finalists for 2020 Female Athlete of the Year after she claimed three medals at Tokyo, including gold in the 800 metres T53 and Marathon T54. The other finalists are Para-cyclist Paige Greco, Para-table tennis player Qian Yang and Para-swimmer Rachael Watson.

Former scholarship holder Louise Sauvage has been nominated for Coach of the Year for her role at the NSW Institute of Sport, where she coaches de Rozario.

Swimming star Ben Popham who also claimed two gold in Tokyo has been nominated for 2020 Rookir of the Year as well as in the team category alongside the swim team.

Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark commended the 188 Para-athletes who represented the nation at Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 for their tenacity and skill despite major obstacles.

“The Paralympics Australia Awards is a chance for our incredible athletes and everyone involved in our Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Teams to reflect on a period of extraordinary success for our movement,” she said.

“During Tokyo particularly, Australians got behind us like never before. With the nation doing it tough amid the pandemic, record audiences turned to our Para-athletes to lift their spirits and our Australian Paralympic Team certainly delivered.”