Great athletes and sporting moments inspire Australians, so now the public is being given the chance to vote for their favourites as part of the AIS Sport Performance Awards.
The AIS, in partnership with ABC Grandstand, has launched a public vote to determine the ABC Sport Personality of the Year and Best Sporting Moment of the past 12 months. 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.
The AIS Sport Performance Awards are an annual celebration of Australian high performance sport, with an AIS judging panel to determine the finalists and winners across a number of categories: male athlete; female athlete; emerging athlete; Para-performance; coach; leader; team; and high performance program.
AIS Director Peter Conde says the two public choice award categories are a way for all Australians to join in and celebrate their love of sport.
"Discussing our favourite athletes, performances and the weekend results is almost a national sport in itself," Conde says. "The AIS is proud to lead the Australian high performance sport system because we know the national pride and inspiration generated by the endeavour and success of our Australian athletes.
"We celebrate gold medals, world records, premierships and triumphs, but we also place a tremendous value on traits such as sportsmanship and inclusiveness - these make sport such an important experience in shaping our communities.
"Australia's sporting diversity is something that we treasure as a nation and is reflected in the broad range of nominees for the public choice awards. We encourage the Australian public to vote online and help choose from some of the best athletes and sporting performances in the past 12 months."
ABC Grandstand is the media partner for the AIS Sport Performance Awards and Australians will be able to vote at aisawards.abc.net.au from now until 5pm AEDT on 9 December, 2018.
ABC Sport Personality of the Year nominees
Dylan Alcott (Tennis)
Liz Cambage (Basketball)
Cate Campbell (Swimming)
Kurt Fearnley (Athletics)
Jessica Fox (Canoeing)
Billy Slater (Rugby League)
Steph Gilmore (Surfing)
Sam Kerr (Football)
Mark Knowles (Hockey)
Craig Lowndes (Motorsport)
Ash Barty (Tennis)
Tom Mitchell (AFL)
Ellyse Perry (Cricket)
David Pocock (Rugby)
Ben Simmons (Basketball)
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
· - WILL POWER WINS INDY 500 (Motorsport): Will Power is the first Australian to win Indianapolis 500
· - MILLMAN THE CONQUEROR (Tennis): John Millman upsets Roger Federer at the US Open
· - DENNIS' RAINBOW STRIPES (Cycling): Rohan Dennis wins the Road Cycling Time Trial World Championships
· - ROOSTERS TACKLE STORM (Rugby League): Sydney Roosters win the NRL grand final
· - 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 the full integration of Para-sport in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
E - EAGLES SOAR IN AFL (AFL): West Coast Eagles win the AFL grand final
· -RICCIARDO RULES MONACO (Motorsport): Daniel Ricciardo wins the Monaco Grand Prix
· -LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN (Netball): Sunshine Coast Lightning win back-to-back titles in the Super Netball)
M - MCGREE'S SUPER GOAL (Football): Newcastle Jet striker Riley McGree scores a freakish A-League goal
P - PERRY PASSES THE TEST (Cricket): Ellyse Perry scores an Australian Test record 213 not out
