Local athletes have been named as finalists in the NSW Sports Awards. Allambie Paralympic athlete Mali Lovell and Invictus Games medal winner David Miln, a biathlon and Nordic skiier from Seaforth, are both in the running for the honour of Athlete of the Year with a Disability. Dolphin’s para swimmer Declan Budd from Terrey Hills is a finalist in the Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability category
The winner will be announced at the NSW Champions of Sport ceremony on 24 November at The Star in Pyrmont.
Australian netball player Mo’onia Gerrard, who grew up in Narrabeen, will be one of five sports greats to be inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions as part of the awards.
The 2025 NSW Sports Awards are the highest sports honours in the state. There will be 12 category winners, including Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year and Master Athlete of the Year. The ceremony will be attended by the elite of NSW sport. It will also celebrate the achievements of NSW athletes, coaches, administrators, officials and organisations over the past 12 months.
The finalists include a sparkling array of Olympians, Paralympians, world champions, national championship winning teams and international officials, together with trailblazing sports bodies and their innovative leaders.
Stuart Hodge, Sport NSW chief executive officer, congratulated all 64 finalists across the 12 award categories. “The exceptional level of performances NSW sport has produced, both on and off the field of play, never ceases to amaze me. It is a true reflection of the dedication and hard work done by so many for so long as they aspire to achieve sporting excellence,” Stuart said.
“The quality of award category submissions this year is again outstanding, and we congratulate all finalists for their wonderful contribution to their sport, and to NSW sport more broadly.
“These performances and achievements continue to raise the bar and set new benchmarks for all sport to aspire to as we turbo-charge along the green and gold highway towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.