The AIS, in partnership with ABC Grandstand, have launched a public vote to determine the ABC Sport Personality of the Year and Best Sporting Moment of the past 12 months. Commonwealth Games Australia had a number of athletes nominated in both categories.
ABC Sport Personality of the Year nominees
Liz Cambage (Basketball)
Liz Cambage was a vital asset throughout the tournament of the Opals campaign in winning gold at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Australia has overcome the sensational ejection of star player Cambage to deliver Opal legend Belinda Snell a gold medal in her final game of international competition. The Opals shone in the final game of the women’s tournament, rolling past England 99-55.
Cate Campbell (Swimming)
Cate Campbell shone at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April 2018 (taking home a total of 4 medals, including 2 individual gold and 1 relay gold). Campbell also set a world record in the process, swimming the fastest women’s freestyle relay split in history in a nail-biting 4 x 100m event, in a time of 51 seconds for the final leg. Campbell was also named Women’s Health Sportswomen of the Year.
Kurt Fearnley (Athletics)
Kurt Fearnley was selected to carry the Australian flag at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony. Fearnley has been a hero of Australian sport for over a decade, and capped off his international career with a gold medal in the T54 wheelchair marathon. The 37-year-old earlier won a silver medal in the men’s T54 1500m final.
Mark Knowles (Hockey)
Mark Knowles was the Commonwealth Games Australia Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer, whilst Knowles lead the Kookaburras to sixth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. A Kookaburras legend, Knowles was sent into retirement a happy man as Australia beat New Zealand 2-0 in the Commonwealth Games gold medal match. Knowles played strongly in his 325th and last match of his 15-year international career as Australia maintained their standing as the kings of the Commonwealth, securing their sixth men’s hockey gold from as many attempts.
Best Sporting Moment nominees
RECORD IN THE RELAY (Swimming): Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle team breaks the world record at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
DENNIS’ RAINBOW STRIPES (Cycling): Rohan Dennis wins the Road Cycling Time Trial World Championships
DREAM TEAM PURSUIT (Cycling): Australian men’s pursuit track cycling team breaks the world record at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
KURT AND PARA-SPORT INTEGRATION (Para-sport): Kurt Fearnley wins gold in his final marathon for Australia, highlighting thefull integration of Para-sport in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
The winners will be announced as part of the AIS Sport Performance Awards to be held at The Star, Sydney, on Thursday 13 December 2018.
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