The 2023 Swimming WA Awards of Excellence at Beaumonde on the Point was a night of pure celebration with over 180 attendees. MC Ross Wallman from Nova 93.7 kept the energy high, while Mark Trainer's music set the perfect tone. Special shoutout to Brandon from Off the Wall Productions, who worked his photo booth magic. The 2023 Swimming WA Awards was indeed a night to remember!
Swimming WA would like to acknowledge our special guests who attended the night; Ms Marguerite Olivier and the team from Hancock Prospecting, The Department of Premier & Cabinet represented by the Honourable Stuart Aubrey MLA, The Beale Family and Aqua Technics represented by Linley Papineau, New Town Toyota represented by Joe Zito, The Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries represented by Matt Hayes, SportWest’s CEO Matt Fulton, Healthway represented by Phil Gregson and our Swimming WA alumni and our other partners.
But the real stars of the evening were the outstanding swimming community members who took home the awards, and what an exciting list of winners they were! Alex Saffy (Bunbury Swimming Club) emerged as the evening's triple winner, claiming the Sir Frank Beaurepaire Trophy, Age Swimmer of the Year, and Elizabeth Edmondson Swimmer of the Year awards. Alex's triumphant journey reached its peak with a stellar performance at the World Championships in Manchester.
Joshua Yong (UWA West Coast Swimming Club) secured the Swimming WA Patron's Trophy and the Lyn McClements Swimmer of the Year Award. His outstanding year included breaking a world record in the 4x100m Medley Relay at the 2023 World Short Course Championships. Joshua's phenomenal performance at the 2023 TYR Pro USA Championships in July made it clear that he's a rising star we should all keep a close eye on as the Olympic Trials loom on the horizon.
Kyle Lee (North Coast Swim Club), the man known for his close finishes, won the Shelley Taylor-Smith Swimmer of the Year Award. His success this year included a breathtaking bronze medal-winning final leg in the 4x1500m relay at the World Championships in Fukuoka.
Iona Anderson (Breakers Swim Club), often referred to as the backstroke queen, was crowned with the Swimmers' Swimmer of the Year Award. Her year was capped with a glittering gold and silver performance at the World Junior Championships in Israel.
Find out the full list of winners here.
Congratulations to all the winners for their remarkable contributions to the world of swimming in Western Australia. The evening was truly a celebration of excellence, passion, and dedication in the sport.
Images from the Swimming WA Awards of Excellence can be found, here. Thank you to Emma Joy Photography for capturing memorable moments for all the cherish.
