Source: Madison De Rozario, Facebook.
Paralympian Madison De Rozario has been named athlete of the year at the Women’s Health Women in Sports Awards.
She beat out fellow sports stars Ash Barty, Emma McKeon, Jess Fox, and Sam Kerr for the top individual honour after a several stellar years that’s seen her break numerous records.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics she won two gold medals in the Women’s 800m T53 and Women’s marathon T54 whilst also picking up a bronze in the Women’s 1500m T54.
The following year she became the first Australian woman to win the New York City Marathon women’s wheelchair race while she’s won the Oz Day Wheelchair Road Race eight times.
De Rozario has also become the first Australia para-athlete to win four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
While the Paralympian took out the top award of the night, other female athletes were celebrated for their achievements and contribution to Australian sports.
Veteran basketballer Lauren Jackson was inducted to the Hall of Fame, while Ash Barty’s Australian Open win was crowned the Standout Moment of the year.
Other recipients of awards included One to Watch winner Mary Fowler who plays on the Matilda’s as a forward and midfielder while swimming superstar Kaylee McKeown was crowned Young Achiever for her triple gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics.
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Mary Fowler is announced as the winner of the 'One to Watch' award at the Women’s Health Women in Sport Awards! #WeAreMatildas #WHWINS pic.twitter.com/r0ht90AAYC
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 16, 2022
The Australian Cricket Team was named Champion Team while Local Sporting Champion was given to Jacqui Dover who is a basketball referee.
Ellie Cole won Outstanding Woman in Sport for her para-swimming efforts while AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone won Person of Sporting Influence. Chloe Dalton was made Leadership Legend.
Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, who was a nominee for the female athlete of the year award and is also officially the world’s fittest woman spoke to Fox Sports before the event saying that rumours of her retirement are false and that the nomination was a sign to keep going.
“I have worked so hard over the past 10 years, so why not keep going? You only have a short period of life at this top level – I will be longer retired than the years I spend competing,” she said.
“I want to be the most dominant CrossFit athlete of all time.”
