All the shining winners from a glittering night
THE 2022 Gold Coast Sport and Para Sport Stars winners:
Gold Coast 2022 Sports Star of the Year: Jai Opetaia
Opetaia’s win came among a field stacked with talent, including McKeon, Fa’asuamaleaui, Van Gisbergen, swimmer Elijah Winnington, canoeist Jean Van der Westhuyzen, surf lifesaving legend Ali Day, BMX freestyler Logan Martin, surfer Stephanie Gilmour and Rugby 7s star Maddison Levi.
Para Sports Star of the Year: Ella Sabljak
A silver medallist in the first 3x3 wheelchair basketball tournament at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Sabljak made a switch to rugby the same year and earned selection for the Australian Steelers rugby outfit in September 2022. She became only the third female athlete to represent Australia in wheelchair rugby when she and her teammates defeated the USA in Denmark to win the IWRF World Championship. Sabljak edged out Oceania Triathlon Para Championship silver track medallist Sara-Ashlee Tait, Paralympian canoeist Susan Seipel and World Para Swimming Championship medallist Madeleine McTernan.
City of Gold Coast Mayor’s Award: Elijah Winnington and Maddison Levi
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate could not split Winnington and Levi. Levi has become a star of the Australian Rugby 7s set-up, winning competitions across the globe including gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Rugby 7s World Cup. Winnington won his first international gold at last year’s World Aquatics Championships in the 400m freestyle, swimming a personal best of 3min 41.22sec in the final – the fifth fastest time in its history.
Eximm Sport Junior Volunteer of the Year: Hayley Bell
For an award that recognises an individual who makes a significant contribution to their local sports community through volunteer work, Hayley Bell won for her Phoenix Netball Club efforts.
Junior Sport Star of the Year: Flynn Southam
Bond University student Flynn Southam took it out for the second year running having won three gold medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and four golds and two silvers at the 2022 Junior Pan Pac Championships.
Daphne Pirie MBE AO Spirit of Sport Medal: Barbara Northcott
A prestigious gong presented to a local athlete, coach, administrator or sport volunteer who epitomises the true meaning of sportsmanship, it was awarded to Hollywell’s Barbara Northcott. Northcott has been a player, coach, referee/umpire, official and administrator in hockey, croquet, and the para sport of gateball. A former captain and coach of the Queensland Veteran women’s hockey team, Northcott went on to play croquet at the highest level, representing Australia at the Melbourne 2020 Association Croquet World Qualifying Championships. She is renowned across her sporting community for her creativity, drive and mentoring of younger players.
Hot Tomato People’s Choice Grassroots Team Award: Coomera Dragon Boating Club
The first club in Southeast Queensland to develop a junior dragon boating program, the Coomera Dragon Boating Club has fostered many junior paddlers, enabling them to compete at regattas from the Sunshine Coast to Coolangatta.
Sport Technology/ Innovation Award: One On One Football
The online business offers services for AFL footballers and coaches from mentoring programs to tips on training, drills and skills.
Sport Photographer of the Year: Brooke Sleep
Brooke Sleep took out the inaugural photographic award for her image capturing the essence of camaraderie, solidarity and sportsmanship within a women’s AFL team. The black and white image showed the team rallying around one of its members who had been injured during a game.